Jharkhand Farmers Suffer as Tomato Prices Collapse
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Synopsis
On February 14, 2023, thousands of farmers in Jharkhand faced a crisis as tomato prices tumbled to Rs 2-3 per kg. Many abandoned their crops, leading to significant losses and further complications in the agricultural sector.
Key Takeaways
- Farmers' Crisis: Price drop to Rs 2-3/kg.
- Investment Loss: Costs exceed earnings.
- Crop Abandonment: Many farmers leave crops to rot.
- Widespread Impact: Affects thousands of acres in multiple districts.
- Potential Abandonment: Farmers considering leaving agriculture.
Ranchi, Feb 14 (NationPress) Numerous farmers in Jharkhand are facing a severe crisis as the price of tomatoes has plummeted to an alarming Rs 2 - Rs 3 per kg. Many have been forced to abandon their tomato crops, allowing them to decay in the fields.
In certain regions, wholesale buyers refuse to pay even Re 1 per kilogram, making it impossible for farmers to recoup their investments.
With escalating losses, several farmers have resorted to using tractors to destroy their ripe crops.
Both large-scale and small-scale growers have experienced significant financial setbacks amounting to lakhs, particularly in tomato farming regions covering thousands of acres across various districts of Jharkhand, including Chatra, Latehar, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Ranchi, Lohardaga, and Giridih.
Prices have been in free fall since January. Even in retail markets, tomatoes are selling for no more than Rs 5-Rs 10 per kg.
The expenses for labor and transportation exceed what farmers earn from selling their produce.
Sonaram Manjhi, a farmer from Patamda in East Singhbhum district, mentions that a crate containing 40-50 kg of tomatoes is priced at merely Rs 30-Rs 35 in the wholesale market, translating to less than Re 1 per kg.
Raghunath Mahato from Chatra reports that the returns don’t even cover the costs of planting and irrigation. “It requires Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 to cultivate one acre of tomatoes, but at current prices, we are losing Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per acre,” he laments.
Pachchu Mahato from Balumath in Latehar shares a similar experience. "We invested in costly seeds and spent significantly on fertilizers and irrigation, yet buyers are unwilling to offer more than a few rupees per kg," he stated.
This crisis is not unprecedented. Last year, farmers in Barkagaon, Hazaribagh, discarded their tomato crops on the streets due to an inability to secure buyers.
This year, the situation is exacerbated by a sharp decline in prices for other vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, and spinach, which further compounds the distress faced by farmers.
“If we continue to incur such losses annually, we may be compelled to abandon farming altogether,” warns Ramsevak Dangi, a farmer from Chatra.
