The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Adilabad farmers expecting bumper yield of tomatoes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 26, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Adilabad farmers expecting bumper yield of tomatoes

S. Harpal Singh

Establishment of a processing plant will be a bonus for farmers, say officials

GUDIHATNOOR (ADILABAD DT.): There seems to be every reason for establishment of a tomato processing plant in Adilabad following the success of the hybrid variety of tomato this year.

Farmers in the mandals of Indervelli, Gudihatnoor, Ichoda and Utnoor had en masse opted for the hybrid variety apparently for the higher yields.

That the ‘618’ variety of the fruit is suitable for processing can become a bonus for the farmers, opined horticulture officials.

Bumper yields are expected from the 15,000 acres of tomato plantation in these mandals.

Establishment of a processing plant will help local farmers in lean periods like the present one. The last rainfall had affected tomato crop in the manner of decreased yields during the first pickings. The market price had also gone down from Rs. 200 to Rs. 80 per crate of 25 kg tomatoes.

Most of the produce is exported to other States like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh besides some towns and major cities in Andhra Pradesh. Whenever the production is affected, exports become slack generating anxiety among farmers.

This is a strong argument in favour of a processing plant. The tomato crop will soon experience more number of flushes and production is likely to go up proportionately.

The price in markets in other States is also likely to pick up in the next few weeks. At present only about 10 lorry loads of tomatoes are transported to other States. This is about one thirds of exports during the peak season.

Buyers from other States have their representatives stationed in these mandals until arrival of summer when the production ceases.

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