The ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh has severely impacted tomato farmers in Kolar, leading to a significant drop in prices. Previously, a box of first-grade tomatoes (weighing around 15 kg) was sold for Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,200. However, prices have plummeted to Rs 350 to Rs 480 per box. At Kolar APMC, tomato prices have fallen from Rs 40 per kg two weeks ago to Rs 12 per kg. The wholesale price at the APMC is now between Rs 100 and Rs 400 per box.
West Bengal traders, who previously bought up to 40 to 50 trucks of tomatoes daily from Kolar, have reduced their purchases by nearly 50% due to the unrest, according to Kolar APMC Secretary Kiran Narayanswamy. This reduction has significantly impacted the export of tomatoes to Bangladesh, a key market for Kolar’s produce.
Shartaz Khan, a local trader, noted that the unrest has led to restrictions at the border and a reduction in truck traffic to Bangladesh. This disruption has forced traders to focus on the domestic market, resulting in lower prices across Karnataka. In addition to the Bangladesh issue, recent landslides in Wayanad have further complicated the situation, affecting transportation to Kerala and contributing to the price drop.
Tomatoes from Kolar, grown on approximately 4,000 hectares of land, are also supplied to markets in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. The high yield was initially expected to bring good returns, but the current challenges have led to fears of even lower prices due to increased production in other states.
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