COIMBATORE: Tomato prices in Coimbatore have dropped to Rs 15 a kg following a sharp rise in arrivals from within the district and from neighbouring states. Traders said the fall is temporary and prices could climb again in the next 15–20 days as supply stabilises.C Ayyaswamy, a farmer in Theethipalayam, said tomato cultivation in Coimbatore district is spread over 2,500 acres, mainly in Thondamuthur and Kinathukadavu blocks. The Nachipalayam belt in Kinathukadavu accounts for the bulk of cultivation, with around 1,800–2,000 acres under the crop.He said tomatoes are typically harvested 65–70 days after planting, and input costs remain steep. Farmers spend up to Rs 1.75lakh – 2 lakh per acre on seeds, stakes, fertilisers and plant protection chemicals. With harvesting now in full swing, growers are sending produce to markets in large volumes. Generally, yield has risen to around 2,500 boxes per acre, he said, with each box weighing about 15 kg in Tamil Nadu’s trade practice.At present, a 15kg box is fetching around Rs 270. A price closer to Rs 700 per box is needed for farmers to cover investment costs and earn a profit, he added. While tomato prices remained favourable over the past two months, the current downturn has pushed many farmers towards losses.Ayyaswamy urged the govt to set up storage and processing infrastructure to convert surplus tomatoes into value-added products, warning that without such facilities, distress disposal and dumping incidents could recur during peak harvest periods.Rajendran, president of the Coimbatore District All Vegetable Market Wholesale Traders Association, said retail prices that rose steadily from Rs 25 in May and June to as high as Rs 55 have now corrected due to increased local output and higher inflows from Hosur and Karnataka. He said a 25kg crate is now selling at a top rate of around Rs 300, indicating wholesale prices have fallen by up to Rs 10 a kg, retail price up to Rs 16 a kg.He said if prices remain low, local farmers may quickly switch to other crops, tightening supply and improving prospects for outstation growers. Given peak season production across India, arrivals are currently strong, but the price dip is expected to be short-lived.
