Tomato farmers in Maharashtra are looking forward to a good crop this year. They are hoping to auction some 1,200-1,500 tonne of tomatoes on a daily basis at Narayangaon open auction that is slated to begin next month onwards.
“Unseasonal rains have damaged almost all crops in the state. However, the acreage under tomato cultivation has risen by 15% this year and therefore there should not be any major problem as far as production is concerned,” Shriram Gadhave, president, Vegetable Growers Association of India (VGAI) and president of Shivneri Group, Junnar, told FE.
This time tomato nurseries have been affected due to unseasonal rains and it could impact the overall crop quality for the next sowing season. However, the current crop will be above expectation and there is little chance of any price rise.
Gadhave’s organisation has been running the Narayangaon open tomato auction as an experiment to eliminate the middleman and help farmers get better prices for their produce. Over the years, this tomato auction has gained fame and also attracted the attention of other states as a model.
“The season is yet to begin and plantation has happened on a large scale in Maharashtra. Over 3 lakh hectares have come under tomato cultivation in the state and therefore production will be above expectation,” Gadhave said.
The tomato season lasts from June to October every year. In Nashik, another tomato growing region, the season is expected to start from August to September and the plantation is yet to begin, Gadhave said. Other areas have also come up in the state where farmers are turning to tomatoes — Beed, Latur and Parali where water availability has not been an issue, Gadhave pointed out.