Torrential rains damaged tomato produce: Farmers

Srinagar, Aug 08: At a time when the prices of tomatoes continue to remain high across the country, the farmers on Tuesday said that this year’s torrential rains and sudden rise in temperature have damaged tomato produce to a large extent.
Rising Kashmir spoke to many farmers who said that farmers, who had planted saplings outdoors, have suffered damage due to the rains and they are worried.
Sajad Ahmad, a farmer from Bugam Chadoora said he had planted tomato saplings in outdoors and torrential rains in June, July and in the initial days of August caused damage to the ripened produce.
“Almost 40 percent of the produce has suffered damage outdoors. This year the rains have affected the produce and caught the farmers in the middle. Last year we did not produce that quantity and prices were down. However, this year prices increased but we suffered damage,” he said.
The farmer said that rains and hailstorms badly damaged tomatoes adding that tomato plants dropped to the ground followed by sudden rise in temperature and crop got affected.
Sajad said the damage was forcing many farmers to stop growing tomatoes. “Now as the demand is high there are very few farmers who have high tech greenhouses left with tomatoes which has caused price rise due to higher demand and short supply,” he said.
Khursheed Ahmad, another farmer from Narkara Budgam also said many farmers who had planted saplings outdoors suffered considerable damage owing to rains in June and July.
“Some farmers have suffered 60 percent damage. The outdoor tomato did not even last for a month if it happened when there was low temperature and all of a sudden temperature increased and the tomato ripened abruptly and suffered damage,” he said.
President, Parimpora Fruit Mandi, Bashir Ahmed Basheer also agreed that the farmers have suffered damage in tomatoes due to rains coupled with an abrupt rise in temperature which has affected supply.
“I met many farmers who told me the produce was good, however the crop has been affected. There is considerable tomato production in villages that has suffered damage,” he said.
Presently, at the Parimpora Fruit Mandi, one kilogram of tomato is sold at Rs 90 to Rs 100 in wholesale, as per the rate list of August 08.
Bashir said last year the prices of tomatoes were low and this year the price rise happened due to the rains that affected the produce with the result prices got up.
“This year the spike in tomato prices first happened due to floods in Himachal Pradesh and the fruit mandi in HP was under flood. HP feeds tomatoes to the whole country. There are huge prices of tomato across India,” he said.
He said the tomato prices have been under pressure for more than a month now across India adding that the rain has worsened the supply, causing further price increases.
Mudasir Ahmad, a consumer from Srinagar said people still do not prefer to purchase tomatoes as the prices continue to remain high and they like to buy other vegetables.
“It is better to buy tomato puree as it is not that costlier than one kilogram of tomato. I think the prices of tomatoes will further increase as the produce has been affected,” he said.