Andhra Pradesh Farmer Strikes Gold With Tomatoes: Earns Rs 4 Crore in 45 Days

A farmer couple in Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor district reaped a windfall profit of Rs 4 crore by selling 40,000 boxes of tomatoes in the span of 45 days.

Chandramouli, a tomato farmer with a 22-acre land, planted a rare tomato variety in early April and used advanced techniques like mulching and micro-irrigation to expedite the yield. By the end of June, he successfully harvested the tomatoes.

Selling his produce at the Kolar market in Karnataka, which is close to his hometown, Chandramouli earned an astounding Rs 3 crore in just 45 days by selling 40,000 boxes of tomatoes. During this period, the price of a 15 kg crate of tomatoes at the market ranged between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500.

Delighted with the surge in tomato prices, Chandramouli revealed that his total earnings from the tomato yield amounted to Rs 4 crore. Out of this, he had invested Rs 1 crore in his farming operations, considering commission and transportation charges. This leaves him with a profit of Rs 3 crore.

In the meantime, Madanapalle, known for having one of India's largest tomato markets, experienced an extraordinary increase in tomato prices. On Friday, July 28, the per-kg price of first-grade tomatoes reached an astonishing Rs 200. Traders rushed to the market in large numbers to purchase tomatoes, particularly the first-grade variety, which was reportedly being exported to northern cities.

Just two weeks earlier, a crate of 25 kg tomatoes was priced at Rs 3,000, which equates to Rs 120 per kg. However, due to growing demand from other states, the price soared to Rs 200 per kg. Officials predict that the surge in tomato prices will continue until the end of August.