Kumar Bahukhandi
Excessive production of tomatoes has become a problem for farmers, crops are rotting in the fields, being sold in the market for Rs 1-2 per kg-photo -prime look
Durg:: The Dhamdha area of the district is famous for tomato production and is called the tomato hub. The farmers here cultivate lakhs of tonnes of tomatoes every year, which supplies it to the entire state. But this year, due to the high production of tomatoes, the farmers are facing huge losses. The prices of tomatoes in the market have fallen so much that farmers are forced to leave it to rot in the fields.
Let us inform you that tomato is cultivated in about 25 thousand acres in Dhamdha area, which produces more than 1.90 lakh metric tonnes of tomatoes every year. 70% of the farmers of this area cultivate tomatoes, because this crop was earlier considered very profitable. But this time due to the abundance of tomatoes in the market, its prices have fallen to the minimum level. Also, the price of tomatoes in wholesale markets has reached 1-2 rupees per kg. Farmers are finding it difficult to recover even their cost. Many farmers are not even able to pluck tomatoes, because the cost of labor is not being recovered. Tomatoes are rotting in the fields, due to which farmers are suffering huge losses. Just a few months ago, the prices of tomatoes had reached 200 rupees per kg, making it difficult for the common people to buy it. But now due to its excessive production, farmers are not getting its right price. This situation is not only seen in Dhamdha, but also in other parts of the country, where the prices have fallen due to excess tomato crop. On the other hand, a farmer who cultivates tomatoes says,
We had planted tomatoes in 40 acres and spent about 40 lakh rupees on it. But this time the price of tomatoes in the market has fallen so much that we are not even able to recover the cost. Due to non-availability of labourers, we have to leave the tomatoes in the fields. This time there was a bumper crop of tomatoes, due to which there was an excess of it in the market.
Prices fell due to excess supply. Tomato is a perishable crop, but farmers do not have adequate cold storage facilities to store it, control of brokers in the market: Traders and middlemen often buy tomatoes from farmers at low prices and later sell them at higher prices. Lack of export and government policy: There is no concrete policy to increase the export of tomatoes or government purchase, due to which farmers are suffering losses.
Another young farmer said, tomato production has been good, but there are no buyers in the market. It is not selling even at Rs 10 per kg, while the price in the market has come down to Rs 1-2. This has made it difficult to manage the family expenses.
Tomato production in Dhamdha area of Durg district has put farmers in trouble. It has become difficult to recover the cost, due to which farmers are frustrated and upset. When the price of tomato increases, the general public is afraid to buy it, and when the prices fall, the farmers are in trouble.
In such a situation, the government needs to seriously consider this issue. If appropriate steps are not taken, then in the coming time farmers may turn away from tomato cultivation, which may disturb the balance of supply and demand.
