Tomato Price Crash: Farmers Dump Crop On Road
- Tomato prices crash as farmers dump produce on Srisailam Road near Kandukuru
- Tomato farmers demand remunerative price as 25 kg box falls to Rs.80 to Rs.100
Hyderabad: Tomato prices have crashed sharply, forcing farmers to dump their produce on the road in protest. The vegetable, which is a staple in daily cooking, now lies scattered on the highway due to a steep fall in market rates.
Farmers staged a protest on the Srisailam Road near Kandukuru on the city outskirts. They poured heaps of tomatoes onto the road to express their anger and distress. The protest followed an unexpected rise in tomato yield, which led to a sharp decline in prices in the market.
At present, a 25 kg box of tomatoes sells for only Rs.80 to Rs.100. This means the price per kilo has dropped to just Rs.4. The fall has left farmers in a difficult position. They say they are unable to recover even their basic investment.
Meanwhile, farmers pointed out that the current price does not cover labour costs for harvesting the crop. In addition, transportation charges to take the produce to the market also exceed the returns. As a result, they face mounting losses despite months of hard work in the fields.
“We worked for months to grow this crop. Now we are forced to throw it on the road,” farmers said, expressing deep anguish. They added that they see no other option as market prices continue to remain low.
Therefore, the protesting farmers urged the government to respond immediately. They demanded that authorities ensure a remunerative price for tomatoes. Alternatively, they asked the government to provide support and relief to protect them from further losses.
The incident highlights the severe distress among tomato farmers due to the price crash. As prices remain low, farmers continue to struggle to sustain their livelihoods.
Now you can get the latest stories from Indtoday on Telegram every day. Click the link to subscribe. Click to follow Indtoday’s Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram. For all the latest Hyderabad News updates and Follow us on GoogleNews
