Tomato Farmers in Asia's Leading Tomato-Growing Belt Face Price Plunge in 2023

Tomato growers in the Madanapalle division of Annamayya district, Andhra Pradesh renowned as Asia's primary hub for tomato cultivation, are facing a challenging predicament in 2023. A mere two months ago, tomatoes commanded a record-breaking price of ₹260 per kilogram in the area, but today, they have plummeted to ₹10 or less.

The first crop of the kharif season is ready for harvest, and the fields have been yielding bumper crops, causing prices to plummet.

 After the COVID pandemic and a surge in tomato exports from the Madanapalle region in mid-2022 and 2023, farmers decided to cultivate extensively during this kharif season. They expanded their cultivation to hundreds of acres in Madanapalle, Piler, and Tamballapalle constituencies of Annamayya district, as well as Palamaner and Punganur constituencies in the adjoining Chittoor district.

The Madanapalle market, which used to receive less than 90 tonnes of tomatoes per day two months ago, now sees an influx of over 300 tonnes daily. This increase is not limited to Madanapalle alone, other markets in Angallu, Valmikipuram, and Palamaner are also experiencing a rise in tomato arrivals. By the end of September, daily harvesting is expected to exceed one thousand tonnes, potentially driving prices down to below ₹2 per kilogram.

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The growing desperation among farmers stems from the fact that tomato cultivation has surged all across India this year, unlike previous years when regions like Madanapalle dominated the market. Even northern states, the Himalayan region, and the Northeast have become self-reliant in tomato production.

Maharashtra, which was once a minor player in tomato farming, is now racing to become a leading tomato producer, thanks to advancements in horticultural technologies.

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Farmers in Madanapalle lament that their exports to other states have dwindled to less than 10% compared to their dominance in previous years. A horticulture official noted that the future of tomato farmers in the Madanapalle region remains uncertain.

Farmers were advised not to engage in mass cultivation of the same crop simultaneously but to adopt more sustainable farming practices. It seems that now, many farmers are realizing the consequences of their decisions as they face an uncertain future in the tomato market.

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