Tomato prices slump 60 percent to Rs 300 per crate, raising farmers concerns
Tomato prices have fallen by 60 percent to Rs 300 per crate, making it harder for farmers to make profit. They say the prices are so low that they are struggling to even cover their production costs
Over the last 25 days, the wholesale price of tomatoes has plummeted by 60-70 percent due to the arrival of fresh crops from key tomato-producing states. The wholesale price, which stood at around Rs 900 to Rs 1,000 per crate (25 kg) a few weeks ago, has now dropped to Rs 250- Rs 400 per crate. This significant decrease is primarily attributed to the arrival of new harvests from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, along with additional supply from Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra.
The impact of this price drop is being felt in the retail market as well, where tomato prices have dipped below Rs 50 per kg. A month ago, consumers were paying as much as Rs 100 per kg. With increased arrivals from southern states, prices are expected to decline further in the coming weeks.
Shriram Gadhave, President of the Indian Vegetable Producers Association, told Rural Voice about the drastic fall in prices. “Tomato prices, which were around Rs 1,000 per crate a month ago, have now fallen to Rs 250- Rs 300 per crate,” Gadhave said. He explained that new crops from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have been the key drivers behind this price decline. In Pune’s wholesale market, prices have dropped from Rs 800 to Rs 200 per crate. Gadhve said that further decline in tomato prices can be seen in the next one month and there is no possibility of improvement in prices till March-April next year.
In Himachal Pradesh’s Solan Mandi, wholesale tomato prices have similarly fallen to Rs 250- Rs 300 per crate, down from Rs 1,000 per crate 25 days ago. Satish, a local commission agent, told Rural Voice that the drop is due to a bumper harvest in Solan and the influx of fresh supplies from South India.
Farmers, who had been benefiting from higher prices a month ago, are now struggling with drastically reduced incomes. Harinand, a tomato farmer in Solan, shared that prices have slumped so much that it is becoming difficult to even cover production costs. "A month ago, I was selling tomatoes at Rs 30- Rs 35 per kg, but now the rate has dropped to Rs 18- Rs20 per kg. The production cost alone is around Rs 20- Rs 22 per kg, so I’m barely breaking even," Harinand said.
The situation is particularly dire for farmers who were already grappling with production losses due to adverse weather conditions earlier this season. The recent price collapse has further compounded their financial stress. Despite occasional price spikes, middlemen continue to take a large share of profits, leaving farmers with limited gains.
In Tamil Nadu, frustrations among farmers boiled over as they protested the low prices by dumping tomatoes on the roads. A video of this protest has gone viral on social media, highlighting the anger and desperation among farmers who are unable to secure a fair price for their produce.
