KOLAR: The downward trend in procurement prices of tomatoes at the Kolar APMC continued for the eleventh consecutive day on Friday - they crashed from Rs 2,200 per 15kg box at the beginning of August to Rs 800.
This is largely due to arrival of more tomatoes from other parts of the state, especially from Chitradurga, Challakere and Chamarajanagar. While 63,200 15-kg boxes of the produce landed on August 2, there were nearly 88,400 boxes on Friday, APMC sources said. Another reason for the fall in prices is related to reduction of demand in north Indian states and from neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh, said Munireddy, a trader at Kolar APMC.
Goli tomatoes, which are smaller in size and considered to be of inferior quality, and 'masala' tomatoes, another cheaper variety, were being sold for Rs 600-900 per 15kg box about a month ago. "Today, they are being sold for Rs 250-300," said Vijayakumar BK, a farmer.
Farmers from Challakere and Chamarajanagar who brought their produce to Kolar with the hope of fetching good prices were disappointed as they had spent a lot to transport their produce to the APMC. Ramakrishna of Charamarajanagar said if this trend continues for the next few days, they may be forced to sell their produce at the nearest market to save on transportation costs.
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