Mataldinni (Koppal district): With tomato prices nosediving, about 100 farmers of Mataldinni village in Yelburga taluk of Koppal district, are into deep financial crisis as they are getting just 50 paise per kg of their produce.
Tomato is grown on 300 acres of land in Mataldinni village, said to be the highest area under cultivation for tomato in North Karnataka this season.
Speaking to TOI, farmer Ishappa Vakra said he has grown tomato on two acres of land and is clueless about what to do next. “Usually prices of tomato rise in summer but this time they have dropped drastically after the recent rains,” he said.
Mahalingappa Kolur, another farmer said, “I have grown tomato on two acres of land. I sold crop grown on one acre at Kushtagi market for Rs 40 per box containing 20 kgs. Now the
price has come down to Rs 10 per box. We are incurring a huge loss as the transportation cost itself is Rs 15 per box,” he said.
Besides price fall, tomato leaf curl virus that has attacked crops has left the growers worried. “Though the horticulture department officials suggested some remedies for the disease, we have decided not to spend any more as there are no takers for our produce in the market,” Kolur said helplessly.
Hanumantappa Hunashyal, a progressive farmer, said scientific price for tomato has been a mirage in the state. “Particularly our region is deprived of a good market for crops like tomato. If farmers want to sell tomato in Kushtagi they have to pay Rs 15 per box as transport charge and to transport it to Ilkal it is Rs 30 per box. Though there is better price in Gangavathi, Ballari and other towns, we are not in a position to spend on transporting. We fear prices may fall there also,” he pointed out.
Basanagouda Polispatil, another villager, noted that retail price of tomato ranges between Rs 5-Rs 7 in Kushtagi and surrounding areas where farmers get 50 paise to Rs 2 per kg.
Umesh Kale, assistant horticulture officer, Yelburga, said that
tomato growers are in trouble. “Tomato is grown on 2,000 hectares of land in Yelburga taluk. Mataldinni village is on top in tomato cultivation. Establishing a tomato processing unit in the region can rescue the farmers,” he added.
