Shruti Suman
Farmers in Maharashtra are facing significant distress as the price of tomatoes has plummeted in the state, dropping from approximately Rs 200 per kilogram a month ago to as low as Rs 3-5 per kilogram. This dire situation has left them with two options: either abandon their tomato crops or destroy their harvest. The stress is so severe that many farmers in the Solapur district have allowed their tomatoes to rot in the fields or used tractors to destroy their crops.
In Pune, tomato prices have fallen to Rs 5 per kilogram in the market. Similarly, in Kolhapur, tomatoes are now being sold at Rs 2-3 per kilogram in retail markets, compared to around Rs 220 per kilogram just a month ago.
In response to this crisis, a group of farmers from Junnar and Ambegaon tehsils convened in Manchar last week to plan a protest in Mumbai. They are demanding the establishment of a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for tomatoes to shield them from such drastic price fluctuations. Additionally, they are urging the state government to set a fixed price for tomatoes.
Agriculture activist Sachin Holkar from Nashik emphasized that an MSP for tomatoes and onions is crucial to prevent these market fluctuations.
Even though some farmers managed to sell their tomato produce at very low prices, they are struggling to recover even half of their initial investment. To cultivate tomatoes on a one-acre plot, a farmer typically requires at least Rs 2 lakh in capital.
The situation has also impacted wholesale prices, with the average wholesale price of tomatoes dropping significantly in the past six weeks. For example, prices have fallen from Rs 2,000 per crate (20 kilograms) to just Rs 90 at the three wholesale mandis in Pimpalgaon, Nashik, and Lasalgaon in Nashik.
Many farmers in Junnar and Ambegaon tehsils in Pune have abandoned their tomato plantations due to the declining prices in the wholesale markets in recent weeks.
According to information from the state agriculture department, the average tomato acreage in Nashik district is approximately 17,000 hectares, with a production of 6 lakh metric tonnes. However, this year saw a doubling of tomato cultivation to 35,000 hectares, with an estimated production of 12.17 lakh metric tonnes.
The sudden surge in tomato cultivation was triggered by the sharp increase in wholesale prices to Rs 3,200 per crate in the Narayangaon market of Pune district in July, leading many farmers to anticipate significant profits. However, their expectations were shattered due to the unexpected bumper yield.
Sharad Gongade, the secretary of the Narayangaon tomato market, highlighted the challenges faced by farmers in this situation.
