Tomato Farmers Feels the Overproduction Heat
Anguished farmers of Kinathukadavu dumped baskets of Tomatos outside the graveyard. This is because of no takers in the whole sale market. 13Kgs of Tomatos (One Basket) is sold Just Rs.10. Farmers says they spend Rs.7 for transportation of One basket tomatos. Many farmers in this region are giving the tomato’s from their field free of cost to avoid additional losses like transportation.
Cost of One Tomato Basket ( 13 Kgs) is falling drastically from this November’08.
| Month | Price in Rs. |
| Nov’08 | 450 |
| Jan’09 | 60 |
| Feb’09 | 10 |
The reasons for this problems is arrival of hybrid varieties from neighboring states like Karnataka, High yield from local produces.
Tamilnadu produces around 3 lakhs tonnes of tomato's every year, from 25000 hectares of farmland. Western districts like Coimbatore, Salem, Krishnagiri & Dharamapuri contributes more than half of state’s production.The reality is even the producer-farmer only get less than Rs.1 per kg, but the retail shops selling at the price of Rs.5 per kg. So Where is the problem ?
