Rains bring cheer to tomato farmers

Anantapur: With the onset of monsoon and the recent rains in the district, more than 10,000 small farmers have planted tomato seed in 16,000 acres of land with the hope of earning reasonable income on their crop.

Small and marginal farmers have planted tomato in one to five acres of land in the district and hope to reap a bumper harvest going by indication of more rains in the anvil in the coming days.

Hundreds of private nurseries have raised tomato saplings and are supplying the same to the farmers. The plantation is spread over Kalyandurg, Kambadur Settur Kuderu N P Kunta, Bathalapalli and Garladinne mandals. Each plant costs around 60 paise.

There are nearly 300 private nurseries which are providing one-month-old tomato plants to farmers.
Presently the cost of one kilogram of tomatoes in the market is Rs 60. Farmers expect the price to further go up.

A tomato plant yields 10 kgs roughly and one acre of tomato plantation yields approximately 10 to 15 tonnes depending upon climatic and soil conditions.

The farmers would derive immense benefit even if the price dips down to half the prevailing market price.
It would be a windfall for the farmers. The Department of Horticulture is providing seeds and other incentives for the farmers.