Tomato prices per KG plummet to single digits

CHENNAI: Tomatoes, which made some farmers millionaires in July and August this year, is now leaving many in tears. Price of tomatoes, which was selling in three digits a month back, has now fallen to single digits.

In the Rayakottai market of Dharmapuri district, known as the tomato hub of Tamil Nadu, as on Monday (September 11), tomatoes were selling at Rs 2 to Rs 8.

The Rayakottai Farmers’ Union president NU Rayappa lamented, “Rayakottai market is the only place in Tamil Nadu that fixes the price of tomatoes. Tomatoes from Karnataka, Kolkata, Gujarat, Coimbatore and Tiruchy are sorted into 5 types and sent for sale. As on Monday, the price of a 25 kg box was Rs 150-320. Last month, a 25 kg box was sold for Rs 4,950 but now it has fallen sharply to Rs 150. You can buy a kilo of tomato for as less as Rs 2-8.”

Due to incessant rains in 2022, tomato yield was affected and its price increased manifold this year. “But then again, due to lack of rains, the yield spiked within 90 days that led to a sharp drop in prices. Additionally, the weakening of southwest monsoon in Karnataka padded up the supply of tomatoes,” he pointed out.

Rayappa, a retired headmaster and farmer, added that despite the drop in tomato prices, the situation had not yet worsened to the point of dumping the fruit.

“Though tomato prices are in single digits, there is no wastage till now. There are reports of tomatoes being dumped in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka as there is no one to buy them. But Rayakottai is not facing such a situation. As the Tamil month Purattasi is about to be begin on September 18, we’re expecting the price to remain low throughout the month. But it will spike again in Ipasi and remain high till Margazhi and even Thai (mid-Oct to Jan),” he elaborated.

Meanwhile, VR Soundararajan, member, Koyambedu Wholesale Traders Committee, says that tomatoes were sold at Rs 8 to Rs 10 in the market on Monday and only unsold tomatoes were thrown away.

“There are 40-50 trucks of tomatoes arriving daily to this market. Tomatoes are sold at Rs 8 to Rs 10 per kg. All the good quality tomatoes are sold fast. The rest remain unsold, and those are thrown away. Along with tomatoes, prices of drumsticks, okra, potatoes and collard greens have also fallen sharply,” he added.

Farmers from across Tamil Nadu have been urging the Central and State government to take steps to fix a permanent price for all produce, including tomatoes.

“Not just tomatoes, any crop that falls in yield will see a hike in its price. And, when the yield increases, the appropriate price is not available. To eliminate this disparity, the Union and State governments should take steps to fix a permanent price for all produce,” opined Muthu Ganesh, farmer from Shoolagiri, Krishnagiri district.

Meanwhile, officials from the Co-operation, Food and Consumer Protection Department said that the sale of tomatoes has been stopped in the TUCS-maintained Pannai Pasumai (Farm Fresh) outlets.

“When the price of tomatoes increased in the wholesale and retail markets, we sold additional quantities of tomatoes at lower prices in the Pannai Pasumai outlets in Chennai, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and Vellore,” recalled a senior official from the department. “Tomatoes were sold on behalf of the Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection department in fair price shops (ration shops) across the State. But when it started to fall last month, the Pannai Pasumai outlets stopped selling them.Meanwhile, regular sales are going on without a hitch. We’re ready to continue selling them if the price rises again.”