Karmad tomato market turns over ₹40-50 lakh a day; crates fetch ₹625 on average

Karmad: Tomatoes fetched an average of ₹625 per 25-kg crate on Saturday, October 10, at the Karmad sub-market of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar agricultural produce market committee. Between 13,000 and 15,000 crates are arriving every day in 200 to 235 jeeps and tractors.

The tomato season runs for about four months a year, and during that time the market does business worth ₹40 lakh to ₹50 lakh a day. Farmers bring produce from Jalna, Bhokardan, Badnapur, Sillod, Phulambri and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar talukas, and traders send it on to Nagpur, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Immediate cash payment, accurate weighing and better prices than other markets make farmers prefer Karmad despite higher transport costs. Farmers Govind Kawale of Samangaon in Jalna taluka and Santosh Vyavhare of Selud in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar taluka said cash payments made their dealings easier.

The season provides work to about 500 people, including porters, drivers, transporters and crate handlers, and with drought cutting farm incomes this seasonal work is helping many families. Market committee chairman Shriram Shelke said the committee was following up with commission agents so that farmers get accurate weights and timely payment.

Source: Esakal