Kurnool: Fluctuating tomato prices are causing serious problems for farmers in Kurnool district. Prices rose recently but then dropped to Rs 10–20 per kilogramme, shocking farmers.
While wholesale and retail traders have remained unaffected, farmers are struggling to even recover their investments. Frustrated by the low prices, many are dumping their tomato stocks on roads or leaving them in their fields, instead of transporting them to markets.
Current tomato prices have hit a new low of Rs 4 per kg in the Aspari and Pathikonda markets of the Kurnool district, leaving farmers in distress. Reacting to the situation, marketing officials even closed the Pathikonda market temporarily.
Just two weeks ago, tomatoes had been selling for Rs 20 per kg, which dropped to Rs 10 last week, before plunging to the current low of Rs 4. Farmers say even this Rs 4 per kg price is being maintained only because revenue and marketing officials are ensuring that tomatoes are not sold for less than this rate.
Tomato farmers are urging the state government to step in and provide relief.
K. Urukundu, a tomato farmer from Pathikonda, pointed out that the previous government had proposed setting up a tomato processing plant with a budget of Rs 12 crore. He requested the coalition government to make the processing plant a reality to support tomato farmers. He said the establishment of the plant will be the only long-term solution to prevent heavy losses to farmers in the future.
