Kurnool: Tomato farmers in Kurnool are grappling with severe financial setbacks due to plummeting market prices. While the expected market rate for tomatoes is between Rs 20 and Rs 25 per kg, farmers are only receiving Rs 4 to Rs 5 a kg. For instance, at the Pathikonda market, 12 kg of tomatoes were sold for just Rs 50, averaging out to Rs 4 per kg—far below the anticipated price.The Pathikonda market receives 2,500 to 3,000 boxes of tomatoes, but prices have fallen dramatically. Two 25 kg boxes or crates, for example, are now priced between Rs 250 and Rs 300.The area dedicated to tomato farming has sharply declined this season. In Kurnool district, it has dropped from 2,600 hectares to 1,450 hectares. Similarly, Nandyal district saw a decrease from 2,310 hectares last year to 2,050 hectares this year.Tomato cultivation costs vary significantly. Traditional methods cost between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000 per acre, while using a trellis system ranges from Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh per acre. Each year, 4,000 to 6,000 hectares (10,000 to 15,000 acres) are cultivated, producing over 23 lakh metric tons of tomatoes.Major wholesale markets in the region include Pathikonda, Aspari, Billekal, Devanakonda, Virupapuram, Peapully, and Dhone. At Pathikonda, where a 10 percent commission is typically charged, marketing officials claim that no commission is required. Additionally, a cess of Rs 600 to Rs 800 is collected based on vehicle capacity.Tomato arrivals began in the first week of August, with initial prices between Rs 10 and Rs 20 per kg. However, these prices have since dropped considerably. Previously, traders from Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and other locations would visit for auctions, fostering competition and better prices for farmers. Now, local businesses accuse traders of forming a syndicate to lower prices and redirect stocks to other markets, where they are sold at Rs 10 to Rs 15 per kg.An administrative sanction was issued last October for the establishment of an Integrated Tomato Processing Unit in Pathikonda, with an investment of Rs 12.05 crore. Despite this, the project, funded by the APFPS, has yet to commence.Farmer K. Ragappa, who invested Rs 1.25 lakh in tomato cultivation on three acres, is facing huge losses due to the current market prices. He has called on the state government to expedite the establishment of the processing unit, which he believes would provide much-needed relief and stability for farmers.
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