“We are getting a good price for our produce after so many years,” Keshava, a tomato grower from Bogaranahalli Koplu near here, said on Saturday. Keshava, who grows tomato in 30 guntas of land, has earned about Rs. 3 lakh in the last couple of weeks— thanks to a sudden surge in the price of tomatoes.
Five months ago, tomato growers in Salagame hobli of Hassan, were forced to sell tomato at as low as Rs. 20 per bag of 15 kg. Many growers threw tomatoes on the road and distributed it to the public free of cost. Things have changed now. “We have never got this kind of price in the past for tomato,” Keshava said. He has spent about Rs. 50,000 to grow tomato. He has so far sold 1,000 bags this season alone. The highest price he got was Rs. 700 per bag.
Tomato is sold at anywhere between Rs. 60 and 80 per kg in cities like Bengaluru. Merchants, who purchase the produce from farmers in small towns, take it to big cities.
“We carry our produce to the market in Hassan once in two days. It is true that we may get a better price if we carry them to Bengaluru. But, it is difficult to travel to Bengaluru,” said Somashekhar, a tomato grower.
One of the reasons for this sudden surge in the price is scanty rainfall in many tomato growing areas. Many growers in Halebid hobli of Hassan suffered loss as there was no sufficient yield due to deficient rainfall.
Only those farmers with private borewells could get a decent yield. With good care and sufficient water, a farmer can produce up to 2,000 bags (each of 15 kg) in one season.
“We would be happy even if we get up to Rs. 150 per bag. But, we don’t get it all the time. The retail sellers get better margin than us. In this season, we have sold tomato for Rs. 300 to Rs. 700 per bag. Whatever we earn, we spend it back on the field and try to improve its productivity,” Somashekhar said.
The growers find it difficult to protect the crop from diseases during the rainy season.
“We can get a good crop only if we apply medicines regularly. We spend a lot on medicines, besides the labour,” said Puttaraju, who has grown tomato in 10 guntas of land.
