ANANTAPUR: The price of tomato has plunged to 40 paise a kg, and onion Rs 2 in the Kurnool market. Massive production couple with poor storage and marketing facilities in Kurnool, Madanapalle and Anantapur markets resulted in the prices hitting rock bottom level. This has resulted in heavy losses for farmers while traders making a profit by selling tomatoes and onions at higher prices.
Tomato, for example, was being sold at Rs 5 to Rs 7 per kg in the retail market. The Kurnool onion market receives at least 100 lorries of onions every day from various parts of Rayalaseema and nearby Karnataka. With huge arrivals, wholesale traders were purchasing a quintal of onion at Rs 200. Angry farmers protested and the district administration intervened and directed the purchase of at least 100 tonnes every day at Rs 500 quintal in the Kurnool market.
Joint collector said the minimum support price would help farmers. Mr Thippwswamy, a farmer from Kalyanadurgam, lamented that he could not get returns on his investment. It may be noted that tomato prices had skyrocketed three months ago to Rs 100 a kg in Delhi and other metros.
