Tomato prices fall at Madanapalle due to searing summer heat

The farmers of the Madanapalle region, host to tomato farming in 15,000 hectares, are a worried lot with summer heat crossing 36° C, which has its impact on the quality and production of the crop during the last fortnight. Though the output has doubled in the last three months, the prices are yet to pick up. On Monday, the model price for the number one variety stood at ₹56 per 10 kg box, and the second at ₹30 per box.

Though the stocks are reaching the Madanapalle market in several loads, the prices are not encouraging, say the farmers. From the last week of April, the produce showed signs of cracks due to intolerance to the abnormal heat. Mercury hardly crossed 35° C in the previous years in the area. For this reason, the first variety loads have dwindled, leaving the second variety to thrive, causing concern at trading.

As the undamaged stocks are being sent to all over Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and other southern States, the domestic market has to depend on the loads with cracks and black spots. The trade is unlikely to bring cheers to the farmers till May- end or June first week, though it is projected that the stocks reaching the market would increase from the present 360 tonnes a day to more than 500 tonnes.

Expecting profits, the farmers of Anantapur district, Chintamani, Rayalpadu and other border areas of Karnataka are also thronging the Madanapalle market. They have some consolation that the price is better than their domestic markets.

Market Committee (Madanapalle) Chairman Ratakonda Gurappa Naidu said compared to the other markets in Rayalaseema or the southern States, the trade is not that disappointing.