Rs 20 in cities, Rs 2 in rural areas: Farmers resort to distress sale of tomatoes in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: In a striking contrast between urban and rural markets, tomato prices in Odisha have witnessed a dramatic disparity, leaving farmers in distress. While tomatoes are being sold at around Rs 20 per kg in Bhubaneswar & Cuttack cities, farmers in rural areas are forced to sell their produce at as low as Rs 2 per kilogram or even distribute them for free.

The situation is particularly alarming in different blocks of Ganjam, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Kendrapada, Balasore districts, where an abundant harvest this season has turned into a burden for cultivators. Despite a good yield, farmers are struggling to find adequate market access to sell their produce at remunerative prices.

Adding to their woes is the lack of proper storage facilities, such as cold storage units, which could have helped preserve the surplus and prevent distress sales. With no means to store or transport their produce efficiently, farmers are left with no choice but to sell tomatoes at extremely low prices, often between Rs 1 and Rs 2 per kg.

Many farmers expressed deep concern as they are unable to recover even the basic cost of cultivation. The sharp fall in prices has significantly impacted their livelihoods, raising serious questions about market linkage, infrastructure gaps, and price stabilisation mechanisms in the agricultural sector.

The current crisis highlights the urgent need for better supply chain management, storage infrastructure, and government intervention to ensure fair returns for farmers and prevent such situations in the future.