Tomato prices crash, farmers urge government to provide support price

Tomato-growing farmers in the Mulbagal taluk of Kolar district are distressed as the tomato prices have decreased sharply at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis from ₹500-550 to ₹150-200 in July.

On Saturday, the price of one crate of tomato comprising 15 kgs was ₹130-170 at the N. Vaddahalli APMC, which is a hub for tomato traders. Loads of tomato crates are purchased and exported to Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Kolkata and Delhi during the peak season of June to September from this APMC.

Traders in the wholesale and retail markets in Bengaluru, including K.R. Market, Yeshwanthpur, K.R. Puram, and Madiwala, said that the price has crashed during the last ten days.

Syed Mushtaq, secretary, Merchants Association in K.R. Market, said,“Now, we are selling tomatoes at ₹10 to ₹15 per kg in the wholesale market, against the earlier price of ₹60 to ₹70 per kg.”

Khaleelullah, a tomato merchant in Yeshwanthpur market, said, “For the last ten days, the retail price for one kg nati tomato is ₹20, and for the hybrid variety, it is ₹15 to ₹17. The decrease in prices is due to a glut in the market.”

Demand for support price

Farmers have urged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to conduct a study and write to the Union government to provide a support price of ₹30 per kg.

Yalavalli Prabhakar, a farmer from Mulbagal, said, “In the last week of June, the price of one crate of tomatoes was ₹250 to ₹350, which was decent enough to recover the expenses incurred on cultivation, harvesting, labour, and transport charges. Now, the price has sharply declined to ₹130 to ₹170. On Saturday, around 290 boxes of tomatoes grown on my farm were auctioned, and each box was priced at only ₹130. It was depressing for me.”

Mr. Prabhakar further added, “We can’t leave these tomatoes in the field also because if they rot away, then we will not be able to produce good quality of yield again. We spend ₹3,50,000 to cultivate tomatoes. All the prices of allied products used by farmers have also increased in the past few months. The paper roll that we use in the tomato farm has also turned out to be expensive. Earlier, it was ₹2000, but it has now increased to ₹3,600 per roll. The paper roll is used as biodegradable mulch to mainly prevent weeds from growing, retain moisture, and keep the soil cooler. The fertilizer prices have also increased from ₹2,500 to ₹4,500 for each bag comprising 50 kgs.”

Venkatappa, another farmer, said, “This year, farmers were extremely happy because the tomato produce was better, with no diseases at all. For the last three years, tomatoes caught the Tomato Leaf Curl Virus, transmitted by whiteflies, bacterial spot or machhe roga, and Late Blight caused by mould in water, among others. Hence, we thought all farmers in the Kolar district would be earning a good price for the produce. However, it has turned out to be dark days. Some of them have dumped tomatoes on the walkway in the APMCs after getting low prices.”

Meanwhile, an official from the Vadahalli APMC said, “Tomatoes arriving at Vadahalli are naati or desi tomatoes, which rot soon. The tomatoes sold in the Srinivaspura APMC mandi are seed tomatoes, which are less juicy and are purchased by processing units to make ketchups, tomato sauce, and so on. Hence, the buyers are fewer here.”

The official added, “The price has decreased because of high supply and low demand. Besides local farmers, we also receive tomato produce from farmers in the bordering districts of Andhra Pradesh. Once the stock from Andhra Pradesh reduces, the price might stabilise again.”

According to data shared by the official, the total quantity of tomatoes received from July 1 to 11 was 56,179 quintals. About 1,31,662 quintals of tomatoes were received in the entire month of June.

Ibrahim Maigur, Director, Horticulture Department, said, “We will speak to farmers and see what financial assistance can be given.”