The steep fall in tomato prices has affected the farmers and the prices have fallen from Rs 350 to Rs 160 per 14 kg in recent days. The farmers are worried that the fall in prices has made it unaffordable even for the cost of transportation.
Tirupur: Tomato cultivation has been carried out on a large scale in the Udumalpet and surrounding areas Tomatoes are currently cultivated on about 20,000 acres of land in the region.
The tomatoes grown here are brought by the farmers to the Udumalpet Municipality market and sold through auction.
Apart from the local traders, traders from Kerala and various districts of Tamil Nadu are also procuring tomatoes.
In the last few weeks, the arrival of tomatoes to the Udumalpet market has increased.
At the same time, prices continue to fall as the arrivals have been rotting without takers.
“Last month, the 14-kg box was sold for Rs 350, but now it is selling only Rs. 160 to Rs 200, depending on the variety†said the farmers.
Farmers have been hit hard by the continuous fall in prices, while the yield of tomato plants and pods has been affected due to continuous snowfall.
According to the farmers, tomato cultivation costs up to Rs 1,400 per acre. Due to the outbreak of diseases, climatic conditions and heavy mist, tomato cultivation has been affected.
In the harvested fruits, a large amount of it rots and gets wasted.
In this situation, the prices of tomatoes in the Udumalpet market continue to fall and the cultivation has become unaffordable.
They demanded that the Tamil Nadu government should take steps to prevent a fall in tomato prices, and take measures to produce value-added products, including tomato sauce by setting up factories.
The tomatoes grown here are brought by the farmers to the Udumalpet Municipality market and sold through auction.
Apart from the local traders, traders from Kerala and various districts of Tamil Nadu are also procuring tomatoes.
In the last few weeks, the arrival of tomatoes to the Udumalpet market has increased.
At the same time, prices continue to fall as the arrivals have been rotting without takers.
“Last month, the 14-kg box was sold for Rs 350, but now it is selling only Rs. 160 to Rs 200, depending on the variety†said the farmers.
Farmers have been hit hard by the continuous fall in prices, while the yield of tomato plants and pods has been affected due to continuous snowfall.
According to the farmers, tomato cultivation costs up to Rs 1,400 per acre. Due to the outbreak of diseases, climatic conditions and heavy mist, tomato cultivation has been affected.
In the harvested fruits, a large amount of it rots and gets wasted.
In this situation, the prices of tomatoes in the Udumalpet market continue to fall and the cultivation has become unaffordable.
They demanded that the Tamil Nadu government should take steps to prevent a fall in tomato prices, and take measures to produce value-added products, including tomato sauce by setting up factories.