Andhra tomato farmers find themselves in a soup after prices fall from Rs 200 to mere Rs 3 per kg

In a stark turn of events, tomato farmers in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh are facing severe economic challenges as tomato prices plummeted from a staggering Rs 200 per kilogram to a mere Rs 3 per kilogram in just a month. This shocking drop in tomato prices has left many farmers grappling with financial distress, prompting drastic measures.

Over the past few days, numerous tomato farmers in Rayalaseema have resorted to dumping their harvests on the roads. Some farmers have taken the drastic step of leaving fully ripened tomatoes unharvested on their farmlands. Their reasoning is clear: the proceeds from selling the tomatoes would not even cover the transportation costs to nearby wholesale markets.

Not too long ago, the state witnessed a surge in tomato prices, with farmers reportedly earning substantial profits, even in crores of rupees, from their tomato sales. During this period, several restaurants and hotels had to abstain from serving dishes that relied on tomatoes due to the scarcity and skyrocketing prices. To alleviate the situation, Rythu Bazaars had stepped in by providing tomatoes at a subsidised rate of Rs 50 per kilogram, drawing long queues of consumers.


However, the fortunes of both farmers and consumers have taken a dramatic downturn in the last week. Wholesale markets have witnessed a significant drop in tomato prices, with rates falling below Rs 10 per kilogram. In stark contrast, tomatoes are still being sold in retail markets at higher prices, ranging from Rs 20 to Rs 30 per kilogram.

K Vannuru Swamy, a farmer from Ipperu in Anantapur district, shared his predicament, revealing that he refrained from harvesting his tomato crop due to the drastic decline in prices. He recounted investing over 1 lakh rupees in cultivating tomatoes across three acres of land. Many farmers in his village had to bear the transportation expenses themselves, as the meagre returns could not even cover logistical costs. Having learned from their unfortunate experiences, Swamy has decided to leave the tomatoes untouched for this harvest cycle.

The situation reached such a dire state that numerous farmers resorted to dumping their tomato produce along the Dhone national highway in Kurnool district, Anantapur rural, and various other areas in Kurnool, accepting a paltry Rs 3 per kilogram for their crops. M Suresh Babu, President of the Goutham Buddha Farmer Producers' Organisation, expressed deep concern over the distressing situation prevailing in Rayalaseema districts.