Chittoor (Telangana): Tomatoes, a common and popular ingredient used in several Indian dishes, have had to be discarded from most kitchens because of skyrocketing prices.
The price of the red fruit, which adds to the taste of an omelette, vegetarian and non-vegetarian items, used to vary from Rs 30-40 to Rs 60-70 per kg in different seasons. Suddenly, the price spiralled north and jumped to almost Rs 300 per kg!
Even restaurant chains like Subway India and McDonald’s have stopped serving tomatoes in their salads.
The Central government intervened in a bid to control the price and bring it down to near-normal levels.
Even as the ‘red beauty’ continues to be sold for Rs 200 per kg in several cities, a farmer couple in Andhra Pradesh has been laughing their way to the bank.
Tomato farmer Chandramouli and his wife, from Telangana’s Chittoor district, sold 40,000 boxes of tomato to make a profit of Rs 3 crore in the span of 45 days!
Chandramouli, who owns a 22-acre farming land, sowed a rare variety of tomato plant in the first week of April. With advanced techniques, he got the tomato yield by the end of June, reported India Today.
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He sold his produce at Karnataka’s Kolar market, which is not very far from his native place. The market rate for a 15 kg crate of tomatoes ranged between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500, and he sold 40,000 boxes in a month and a half.
“From the produce I got so far, I have earned Rs 4 crore. Overall, I had to invest Rs 1 crore in my 22 acres of land to get the yield and this includes commission and transportation charges. So, profits were Rs 3 crore,” a delighted Chandramouli explained.
Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh, which boasts one of the biggest tomato markets in the country, saw the price soar to Rs 200 per kg last weekend after it had come down to Rs 120 per kg.
