Madanapalle: Farmers of Madanapalle region have taken up tomato cultivation in 25,000 acres prompted by the demand in the market and returns from the crop during current year.
Usually farmers are wary of growing tomato in large scale since they ended up in loss and even forced to throw them on the road due to lack of demand many times in the past.
Farmers have to invest anywhere between Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 per acre for the crop and the profit would be around Rs 1 lakh if present trend in the market continues.
As of now tomato is being grown in 5,500 acres in the mandals located on the western parts in addition to 7,000 acres in Tamballapalle, Peddamandyam, Mulakalacheruvu and Pedda Tippasamudram.
According to information, wholesale traders from Tamil Nadu and Kerala are bee-lining to Madanapalle market and purchasing tomato for Rs 25-a-kilo because of drop in production in their states. They have been selling the product for Rs 40-a-kg back home. Of the 210 tonnes arrived in the market on Sunday, first grade was sold for Rs 250, second grade for Rs 200 and third grade for Rs 150 per 10 kg.
Farmers of the region said that abundant availability of water in tanks, ponds, check dams, wells and bores apart from projects is one of the major advantage this year to go for tomato cultivation in a big way.
They said that the preferred crops in the region are groundnut, paddy, vegetables and ragi (finger millet) in the western mandals of Chittoor. Agriculture officials said that thousands of families have been depending on tomato crop since three decades though it has become a lottery of sorts sometimes.
They said that drop in tomato cultivation in neighbouring states is encouraging the farmers of Madanapalle region to opt for tomato in a big way. The output is being transported to all parts of AP and parts of Telangana besides Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
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