Heartbroken over price fall, angry farmer dumps truck load of tomatoes

HYDERABAD: Upset over not getting a remunerative price, a farmer dumped two tonnes of tomatoes in a market and returned home empty handed.
The incident occurred on Wednesday at vegetable market in Bowenpally in Secunderabad, Telangana.
A farmer brought tomatoes in a truck from Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh in the hope of getting some remunerative price.

However, the traders offered him not more than Rs 2 per kg. The farmer was shocked as this would not even get him the money to meet the transport cost.

With nobody ready to pay more than Rs 2 a kg, the angry farmer dumped the truck load in the market and left. Some vendors were seen picking up tomatoes from the heap.

“Earlier I use to get Rs 1500 per crate but now it’s gone down to Rs 60. I spent almost 16 thousand on transportation but now all gone in vain.” told, frustrated Siddhaiah to Mail Today.

The farmer had come to Hyderabad as the price of tomatoes has come down drastically in the markets in Anantapur and other districts in Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh over the last few weeks.

This is attributed to more production of tomatoes coupled with the impact of demonetisation. The farmers in Madanpalli market in Chittoor district and other markets in Rayalaseema are not finding buyers for their produce due to currency shortage.

The non-availability of cash in the wake of scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes has dented the prices of the kitchen staple, causing hardship to poor farmers who are largely dependent on tomatoes for their livelihood in this season.

Farmers growing onions, tomatoes and other vegetables have suffered huge losses due to the fall in demand in the wake of scrapping of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.

With agencies input