PROBLEM OF PLENTY: The wholesale vegetable market in Mysore is flooded with tonnes of tomatoes. — PHOTO: M A SRIRAM.

MYSORE: Farmers in the region are disappointed over the sharp fall in tomato price. Good rainfall in the last few months yielded them a bumper crop, but it also triggered a drop in price.

The old Regulated Marketing Committee (RMC) yard on Sayyaji Rao Road is flooded with several tonnes of tomatoes brought from several parts of Mysore and adjoining Mandya district.

And tomato price in the wholesale market has plunged from Rs. 7 a kg about ten days ago to Rs. 2.50 to Rs. 3.50 a kg. "To transport each crate containing 20 kg of tomato, I spend between Rs. 15 and Rs. 20," said a farmer from Nagamangala taluk in neighbouring Mandya district. If the cost of cultivation is taken into account, the farmers end up making a loss, said a commission agent at the old RMC yard.

Until a fortnight ago, the price of tomatoes stood at a reasonable Rs. 7 a kg in the wholesale market. But, prices gradually began to fall in the past one week to reach Rs. 2 to Rs. 2.50 a kg two days ago, a commission agent said.

Although the prices rose marginally to Rs. 2.50/Rs. 3 a kg on Monday, the large quantity of tomatoes, which is being unloaded at the market yard every day, is causing concern among farmers.

Huge loads

The old RMC yard market used to receive about four to five trucks every day, with each truck carrying between five to seven tonnes of tomatoes.

At present, At present, more than eight trucks and a host of other vehicles, including autorickshaws and tractors, are transporting tomatoes from the fields to the market. On account of the high yield, several farmers bring basket loads of tomatoes to the city atop private buses. The private bus stand in Mysore is located opposite old RMC yard, where tomatoes and other vegetables are sold to traders.

The tomatoes sold at old RMC yard meet the requirements in the city.

It is also transported to various parts of neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Kerala, besides Madikeri in Karnataka.

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