Tomato producers in India abandon crops due to low prices

Tomato producers in India's largest tomato cultivation region, with approximately 20,000 hectares in Annamayya and Chittoor districts, are planning to postpone harvesting due to low market prices. The decision is attributed to an oversupply in local markets, competition from other states, and current inability to export. This situation presents a challenge for producers, who face high costs in paying workers and transporting the produce, yet are not receiving adequate prices. This predicament is further complicated by the desire to break even after losses incurred during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.