Tomatoes: Drop in Demand From Other States Hits Chittoor Farmers Hard

Tirupati: A sharp fall in demand from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka has left tomato farmers in Chittoor district in distress. They're struggling to sell their produce though they were buoyed by a bumper harvest.

Traders and growers cite unexpected local supply in those states as the primary reason for the reduced demand. This caused prices in Chittoor markets to fall majorly.

Traditionally, Chittoor is the backbone of tomato supply to cities across southern India, fulfilling nearly 60 per cent of the needs in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. However, this year, tables have turned. Favorable weather conditions in those states led to early local harvests, reducing the dependence on tomatoes from Chittoor.

“As soon as the season starts here, we usually see trucks lined up to take our produce to Chennai, Bengaluru and other cities”, said Ramesh Babu, a tomato trader from Palamaner.

“But this year, local supplies in those states are filling the shelves. Buyers aren’t coming like before,” he said.

Ironically, the crisis came in a year of agricultural success. Spurred by good returns last season and excellent growing conditions, Chittoor farmers expanded tomato cultivation to over 2,250 acres. “This was the largest area under tomato cultivation in recent years,” said an official from the agriculture department.

“No unseasonal rains, no pest outbreaks — everything went in farmers’ favour. But the market didn’t,” he rued.

With harvesting under way and no takers in bulk-buying states, local markets are seeing a flood of the produce. Wholesale prices have dropped drastically. Where a 15-kg box fetched up to Rs.300 last year, it now struggles to go beyond Rs.150. Prices are averaging below Rs.10 per kg in the wholesale markets.

Raja Reddy, a tomato farmer from Madanapalle, has been forced to rely on his own family for harvesting.

“I spent Rs.5 lakh on cultivation. With such low prices, I can’t afford to hire labour now. Instead, my family is doing the cutting. After three harvests, I got just Rs.45,000. It’s heartbreaking,” he bemoaned, tears welling up in his eyes.

Despite the current slump, market experts suggest that the situation may improve by the end of May or early June.

Tomato harvesting in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka is in its final stages, while Chittoor is entering its peak. “Every day, around 1,100 to 1,200 tonnes of tomatoes are being sent out from this region,” said trader Ravi Kumar.

“Once the supply in other states tapers off, demand for Chittoor tomatoes could rebound and prices might rise,” he hoped.