Slump in prices; farmers dump tomatoes in drain

Mysore, Jul 14 (UNI) Distressed over the fall in prices of tomatoes, farmers of Mysore and neighbouring districts dumped them into the drain at Regulated Market Committee (RMC) yard here today.

The farmers, who came with loads of tomatoes, were dejected when the Wholesale Traders offered only Re one for a kg of tomato against Rs three given last week.

The farmers from Pandavapura and Srirangpatna in Mandya district and K R Nagara and other taluks in Mysore district entered into a heated argument with the traders, who told them that the prices of tomatoes had dipped due to heavy arrival. The vendors pleaded their inability to offer a better price to the farmers.

After throwing the tomatoes into sewer drain and on streets, the farmers were seen returning empty handed cursing their fate.

RMC yard sources said normal arrival of tomato to the yard, which was 125 tonnes per day till last week has doubled since a couple of days leading to slump in the prices. However, prices of other vegetables remained stable.

UNI BSP MSP ROY RL ND2014