Adilabad: Incessant rains and foggy weather conditions have badly hit the tomato crop in old Adilabad district, resulting in heavy losses for farmers. Due to their impending shortage, prices of tomatoes are likely to increase in the market.
Areas where tomatoes are grown in high quantities are Utnoor, Indravelli, Gudihathnoor, Ichoda and Adilabad mandals. The crop is also cultivated in Soyamguda, Takiguda, Thosham, Mankapur, Dhanora, Devapur and Pipri in Indravelli mandal.
According to an estimate, farmers cultivate tomatoes over 1,200 acres in Adilabad district alone. They invest Rs 40,000 for cultivating tomatoes over one acre. Narude Subhash of Dhanora (B) village in Indravelli mandal said incessant rains have badly hit the tomato crop. Even pests have attacked tomato plants due to bad weather conditions.
Subhash said normally, farmers sell a kg of tomatoes for Rs 4, which eventually end up being sold for Rs 20 a kg in the market. With considerable amount of crop lost, prices of this fruit are expected to go up.
Tomato farmers have appealed to agriculture department officials to conduct a survey for assessing the loss, so that compensation could be paid for damaged crops.
Farmers also incur losses on their tomato produce due to lack of cold storage facilities in Adilabad district and there being not much market for the crop locally.
