It is the problem of plenty troubling the Andhra Pradesh tomato farmers. For the fourth consecutive year, the tomato farmers from Kurnool and Chittoor districts have to dump the tomatoes on the road-side, as there are no takers.
According to reports from both the districts, mostly drought prone, the tomato crop output will increase this year too. The crop is sown in about 30,000 acres in both the districts giving an yield of about 10 quintals per acre. Tomatoes are now sold at 10 paise per kilo at various towns including Madanapalli, Punganur and Vayalapadu in Chittoor district and Dhone, Gooty and Nandikotkur in Kurnool districts.
Despite the state government allowing the corporate retail giants to buy the agriculture produce directly from the farmers, the tomato farmers continue to suffer. However market sources points out that since the AP tomatoes have no buyers in other states, the retailers are reluctant to buy AP tomatoes in big lots. On the other hand, the tomato farmers demand for setting up of cold storages near the market yards, has not been taken up by the government. Agitating over the plight, the tomato farmers have staged dharna in front of a state minister J C Diwakar Reddy, requesting him to use his good offices to pressurise the government for market interventions. ?We are leaving the tomato baskets at bus stands on the highways hoping that some of the passengers will take them and leave some money,? a tomato farmer said.
