Bengaluru: Since the last couple of decades the tomato growers of the state have been witnessing huge losses due to steep fluctuation in the prices. At the same time consumers have also been hit by the same trend. If farmers get Re1 per kilogram of tomato they have grown, the same produce is sold for Rs 20 per kilogram in Bengaluru. And the same trend continues even in the new year. Here is the real story of a techie who has lost 100 tons of tomato due to the lack of demand this season.
According to Dileep Kumar Reddy, an entrepreneur who is running Surmtec Pvt Ltd, a water purifier company in Bengaluru, he has lost around 100 tons of tomato crop during this winter due to no demand for the standing crop. A resident of a village which is just 10 kilometers from Kolar district headquarters, Dileep’s social media posts on the distress faced by the tomato growers are representing the rural agrarian crisis.
Speaking to Newskarnataka, Dileep said that his family was engaged in tomato cultivation since last 20 years. “This year we have cultivated tomato in 2 acres of land. But due to a steep drop in demand for tomato we have incurred Rs 4 Lakh loss with 100 tons of crop wasted in the farm itself,” he said.
“My father is looking after the farming. These kind of bitter experiences are common for growers. Still we continue farming,” he signed off.
But according to the officials of state agriculture department these kind of stories have been very common in Kolar district this year. “Drought is the first enemy of the tomato growers. But because of the recent rain due to the ‘Vardah’ cyclone, farmers are getting bumper tomato crop in the district. But the steep drop in the prices at the same time has disappointed the farmers,” said an officer.
But contrary to the farmers’ distress, in Bengaluru city which is just one and half hour journey away from Kolar, a kilogram of tomato is sold at Rs.20!
