Everyone is well aware of the recent surge in tomato prices. Just six weeks ago, the average price of tomatoes soared to ₹2,000 per crate. But now, in cities like Kolhapur, prices have plummeted to as low as ₹2-3 per kilogram. But what led to this drastic shift?
Previous High Prices and the Sudden Drop
- Historical Highs: About a month ago, tomato prices were staggering, ranging between ₹200 to ₹300 per kilo.
- Current Rates: However, they have now crashed down to a mere ₹3 to ₹5 per kilo.
- The Farmer’s Plight: Expecting good returns due to the previous high prices, many farmers increased their tomato cultivation. But with the sudden drop, some farmers have stopped growing tomatoes altogether.
The Reason Behind the Decline
There’s a multitude of factors that have led to the sharp decrease in tomato prices:
Overproduction:
- Increased Farming: Many farmers, seeing the sky-high prices, increased their tomato cultivation hoping for lucrative returns.
- Overproduction Results: With an increase in tomato farming, the market saw an oversupply of tomatoes, causing prices to plummet.
Challenges Faced by the Farmers:
- High Costs: It’s estimated that for one acre of land, nearly ₹2 lakh is required to cultivate tomatoes.
- Current Sales: Even after incurring these high costs, farmers are now being forced to sell their produce for just ₹2 to ₹3 per kilo.
Maharashtra’s Largest Wholesale Tomato Price Market:
- Pimpalgaon APMC: Located in Maharashtra, this is the state’s largest wholesale tomato market.
- Daily Auctions: Approximately 2 lakh crates of tomatoes are auctioned daily.
- Production Figures: As per the agriculture department’s data, the average tomato cultivation in Nashik is around 17,000 hectares, producing about 6 lakh metric tons of tomatoes. This year, cultivation doubled to 35,000 hectares, yielding about 12.17 lakh metric tons.
Why are Farmers Throwing Away Their Tomatoes?
- Losses: Despite the huge demand last month, the rapid decline in prices has resulted in significant losses for farmers.
- Costly Transportation: For many, the cost of transporting 100 crates of tomatoes to the market is around ₹8,500. Due to the steep drop in prices, it’s more economical for them to destroy the crop rather than transporting and selling it at current rates.
Conclusion: The volatile market and the unprecedented price fluctuations have highlighted the uncertainties farmers face. This drastic shift in tomato prices underscores the need for better agricultural policies and infrastructure to support farmers and stabilize the market.
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