Tomato prices tumbled to Rs. 20 a crate (24 kg) from Rs. 200 in the major wholesale markets in Krishnagiri district. High quality tomatoes are quoting Rs. 50 a crate (24 kg).
Bumper crops in Andhra Pradesh is one of the reason for the crash in prices.
Traders from Chinthamani and Kolar in Karnataka, and Madanapalli in Andhra Pradesh did not turn up to purchase tomato from here, as they could procure them at the same price there itself. This has resulted in farmers incurring heavy losses. Many dumped the produce on roadsides. Tomato, cabbage, and potatoes are produced in Hosur region and they enjoy a premium price in all markets.
Tomato is cultivated in more than 3,000 hectares in and around Hosur, Denkanikottai, Anchetti, and Royakottai with an annual production of over 50,000 tonnes.
Tomatoes from these places reach wholesale markets at Rayakottai, Krishnagiri, Shoolagiri, Palacode, and Hosur. They are transported to Palani, Dindigul, Trichy, Chennai, and Bangalore among others. B. Doorvasar, a wholesale merchant at the Royakottai Tomato Market told The Hindu on Saturday that the varieties such as Red Ruby, Surabi, 618, 1196, and Bramma are cultivated in large quantity in this region.
This time the farmers got a very high yield. The market receives 3,000 to 4,000 crates of tomatoes daily and are auctioned at 11 a.m. The lower prices were likely to prevail for another two months. Farmers want the government to procure tomatoes from them. An official from the Agriculture Department said that the plan to establish a cold storage facility at Royakotti and Hosur had not materialised for various reasons.
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