Tomato Prices Hit Rock Bottom, Selling at Rs. 2 Per Kilogram:
The price of tomatoes has plummeted to an alarming low of Rs. 2 per kilogram in local markets, pushing farmers in the Peapully area of Nandyal to the brink of despair. Just a few weeks ago, tomato prices were soaring at Rs. 150-200 per kilogram, but the influx of fresh crops into the main markets has led to a significant price drop.
Due to the rock-bottom prices, some farmers have resorted to dumping their Tomato produce outside the market, while others have done so on national highways, a situation reminiscent of the past. The volatile market conditions have become unbearable for them.
Now, after factoring in transportation costs, farmers are left with meager profits, potentially forcing them to abandon their crops to wither away in the fields, according to analysts.
Farmers are expressing frustration that the prices they receive barely cover the expenses associated with transportation. Distressed farmers have left tomatoes on the National Highway in Dhone, where cattle have started consuming them.
In the Pathikonda wholesale market in Kurnool, a sharp decline in Tomato prices was evident on Thursday. Approximately 300 quintals of tomatoes arrived at the wholesale market, with an average price of Rs. 6 per kilogram. However, high-quality tomatoes commanded a slightly better rate, fetching Rs. 1,200 per quintal, compared to the Rs. 2,000-2,500 per quintal price range just a week ago.
Srinivasulu, the secretary of the Pathikonda Wholesale Market Yard, pointed out that the vegetable market, which was once a significant source of income for farmers, has become highly unpredictable. Some farmers are now hesitant to bring their produce to the market to avoid incurring transportation costs.
