Hit by glut, tomato farmers want horticulture dept to create better awareness on crop rotation

WITH Dharmapuri district witnessing another tomato glut this year, farmers have urged the horticulture department to create better awareness about crop rotation and provide detailed data of planted crops in each block to enable them to choose suitable crops other than tomatoes.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Dharmapuri

It may be noted that the district, one of the largest tomato producers in the state, is facing the seasonal "tomato glut" as farmers overproduced tomatoes to compensate for the water shortage during summer. However, the glut has resulted in tomato procurement prices dropping to ₹5 to ₹7 per kg in the wholesale market and ₹12 per kg in the retail market.

Considering this, farmers have sought the horticulture department to take necessary steps to provide data on the area of crop cultivated in each block every month, so that they can plan ahead and choose better crops for crop rotation.

Speaking to TNIE, S Selvaraj, a farmer from Palacode, said the glut was primarily due to acute water shortage during summers.