The increasing prices of tomatoes have become a great concern for public as well as the government. Tomatoes are being sold in the range of Rs. 150-Rs. 200 per kg and experts are of the opinion that the prices may reach Rs. 300 per kg in the near future. However, the government has taken some measures to control the prices of tomatoes including the sale of tomatoes at selected locations where they will be sold at a price of Rs. 80 per kg.
However, these increasing prices have been very helpful for farmers as many of them have earned a good amount in the last one month or so.
A farmer from Pune, Tukaram Bhagoji Gayakar has literally hit the jackpot as he has earned a whopping amount of Rs. 1.5 crore in a month by selling 13K crate of tomatoes. Tukaram is the owner of 18 acres of land, out of which he uses 12 acres of land for tomato farming and he is supported by his son Ishwar and his daughter-in-law Sonali. While Sonali looks after planting, harvesting and packaging, the work of sales, management and financial planning is managed by Ishwar.
Tukaram sells a single crate in the range of Rs. 1000 to Rs. 2400 depending on the quality of tomatoes and on one day, he earned Rs. 18 lakh by selling 900 crates.
It is not just Tukaram who earned well, the whole tomato selling community of Junnar, Pune, carried out a business worth Rs. 80 crore and the good thing is that more than 100 women are employed in the business.
Needless to say, the high price of tomatoes is a matter of concern for lower and middle class but the good thing is that at least someone has got benefitted with it. Let’s see when tomatoes will be back on our plates as they used to be before the price hike.
