Forced To Sell At Rs 2 For 15 Kgs, Karnataka Farmers Dump Tomatoes On Roadside

The ongoing lockdowns in several states to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are having some unintentional consequences as well.

Across the country, farmers especially those who had cultivated vegetables are struggling to harvest them and take them to the market on time.

In addition to this, there is also the issue of low prices, which the farmers say is not enough to recover their investment, let alone make some profit.

In the past couple of days, videos have surfaced from Kolar in Karnataka showing farmers dumping truckloads of tomatoes on the roadside due to low prices.

A farmer in #Kolar #Karnataka was seen throwing his tomato produce on the road side as he was not getting proper price for his produce. They are getting Rs. 2 for 15 kilos. Farmers say they are under huge loss as it does not even cover the transport cost. pic.twitter.com/9kyGui0bRC

¡ª Imran Khan (@keypadguerilla) May 20, 2021

'Won't even cover the market cost'

The farmers said that they were being offered Rs 2 for 15 kgs, which won't even cover the transport cost.

According to farmers due to the lockdown and restrictions on interstate transport, the number of trucks going from Karnataka to states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu have reduced, which has resulted in the low demand in the market.

#Tomato growers in tears as prices crash in #kolar. Tomato found in road side near Vaddahalli#Karnataka #karnatakalockdown pic.twitter.com/aNZS60m6gX

¡ª kuntavalliguru (@kuntavalliguru) May 14, 2021

It is not just vegetable growers in Karnataka that have been struggling to sell their produce. Even flower farmers in Kolar had recently dumped loads of their produce on the road.

BCCL

With the flower shops remaining closed in Karnataka due to the lockdown, the farmers have failed to sell their produce.

A Flower grower in #Gadag #Karnataka had to raise down his field as harvesting process could not be taken up as workers had gone to their home town due to lockdown. pic.twitter.com/hFfyOCXOz6

¡ª Imran Khan (@keypadguerilla) May 21, 2021

Last week, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had announced over Rs 1,250 crore relief package for those whose livelihood has been affected by COVID-19 induced lockdown.

Listing out details of the relief package, the CM said Rs 10,000 relief will be given to growers for per hectare loss. It will benefit about 20,000 farmers and may cost Rs 12.73 crore.

For the losses suffered by fruit and vegetable growers, Rs 10,000 per ha financial relief will be given to growers, limiting it to one hectare. He said this will benefit about 69,000 farmers and may cost Rs 69 crore.