Due to lack of predictability within the functioning of wholesale vegetable markets within the nation, fluctuations in lockdowns in numerous states and closure of retail retailers, resorts, hostels and marriage halls, massive portions of tomatoes have gone unsold. Kolar APMC market, which is the second largest tomato market in Asia.
Tomato crates have been dumped on the roadside within the Kolar area this week after the tomato supplying APMC market presently of yr to markets throughout India. A video of tomato dumping went viral on social media.
“We checked the dumping of tomatoes on the side of the road and found that they were tomatoes that went unsold in the APMC market due to their quality,” mentioned Dr. R. Selvamani, Deputy Commissioner, Kolar District.
Kolar DC mentioned, “We asked our officials to find out and we came to know that out of the 1,200 tonnes of tomatoes transported at Kolar APMC on Wednesday, 70 tonnes were unsold as they were considered to be of low quality.” .
The APMC Tomato Market in Kolar is the principle provider of tomatoes to states akin to West Bengal, UP, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and can be for export to nations akin to Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and China.
During the present season, when farmers have cultivated extensively with tomatoes within the hope of excellent costs, the harvesting time has been miscalculated resulting from uncertainty in markets throughout the nation as a result of lockdown and there’s a glut available in the market. . APMC merchants mentioned that this resulted in reducing tomato high quality and gross sales.
Tomato is cultivated on 10,000 acres of land in Kolar district and tomato produce from 5 districts of South Karnataka is obtained in Kolar APMC Tomato Market. In latest instances, the quantity of tomatoes coming to market throughout the ongoing lockdown to stop the unfold of Kovid-19 has been between 1,200 and 1,700 tonnes.
This week, when a video of tomatoes being thrown on the roadside surfaced, 1600 tons of tomatoes had arrived available in the market. According to crop information supplied by APMC’s on-line information system, greater than 3,500 tonnes of tomatoes arrived at three APMC markets in Kolar district on Saturday.
“Tomato yield has been almost four times higher than the previous season as farmers were expecting good prices and sales. Market disruption by lockdown means that some products go unsold for a few days and then their quality deteriorates and they end up ordering at no cost, ”mentioned CR Srinath, a tomato dealer at Kolar APMC market mentioned. tomatoes. He mentioned that good tomatoes have been obtainable for about 15 rupees for a 15 kg field, however fourth and fifth high quality tomatoes fetch just a few rupees for a 15 kg field.
“The key to getting good prices is at the time of harvest. In states like West Bengal and UP, crops must be harvested two days before being taken to the markets. What is happening now due to the lockdown is that farmers are not getting clear information on the days when the markets of other states will be open. As a result, the produce is coming into the market long before transportation and quality is being lost, ”mentioned Srinath.
“Another reason for the termination of tomato crops this season is that retail sales are restricted due to the lockdown and hotels, hostels and marriage halls are all closed. There is more crop and less demand, ”the dealer mentioned.
Incidents of market uncertainty typically lead to tomato crop wastage from Kolar APMC. The lockdown in 2020 precipitated comparable issues.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
