Coimbatore: The price of Farmgate Tomatoes has dropped below 10 per kg in the district of 100 two months ago.
Even though this is good news for consumers, tomato farmers face a difficult time.
They say there are further dyes in the price will cause them to lose severely.
Tomato prices have increased exponentially in November last year, when retail prices touched 130 kg in the city after the unrelenting rainfall reached production.
While the situation helps some farmers, many cannot take advantage of the opportunity because of poor results.
Farmers from Madukkarai, Thontamuthur and Kinathukadavu blocks grow tomatoes widely in the district.
In accordance with the data available with the Horticulture Department, tomatoes are cultivated at 3,500-4,000 hectares of land in the annual district.
Farmers said they needed an investment of 1 lakh to grow tomatoes on Acre.
“Pangkasan began to produce in three months and last for months.
We can cover production costs, if we get 10 per kg.
But the trader asks us to drop prices below 10,” said one of them.
A Rajamani, a tomato farmer from Pullakavundanpudur, said the price of Farmgate was 9 per kg, while traders sold it at 15 per kg in retail stores.
“We will get a profit if 1kg tomatoes are appreciated above 12.” C Muthukukar, another farmer, said he could not benefit from high prices last year because the plants were completely damaged in the rain.
“Now I have a good harvest, but the price has come down.”
TN: Tomato farmers see red as a price decline
