Tomato prices in B'luru plummet from Rs 220 to Rs 14

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The prices of tomatoes in Bengaluru have plummeted from Rs 220 per kg to Rs 14 per kg in a week, providing muchneeded relief to consumers.

However, the sharp decline has left farmers reeling, as the production cost of tomatoes is around Rs 10-12 per kg. The sudden fall in prices is attributed to a number of factors, including the arrival of fresh tomatoes from other states, a decline in demand due to the monsoon season, and hoarding by traders.

The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sanga (KRRS), an umbrella organization of farmers' unions, has urged the state government to intervene and stabilize the prices of tomatoes and other vegetables.

The KRRS general secretary said that the government should set up a market intervention fund to buy tomatoes from farmers at a fair price and then sell them to consumers at a lower price.

The KRRS has also demanded that the government crackdown on hoarding and speculation by traders. The sharp fall in tomato prices is a reminder of the volatility of the agricultural market.

Farmers are often at the mercy of market forces, and they can suffer huge losses if prices crash. The government needs to take steps to protect farmers from such losses and to ensure that they get a fair price for their produce.