Keonjhar: A huge relief has come for tomato farmers who had been resorting to distress sale in parts of Keonjhar district.
Their problem has partially been solved now as traders have started coming to purchase tomatoes in Mahadeijoda, Padmapur and other areas under Sadar block.
A few days ago, many farmers had protested distress sale of their produce by dumping tones of tomatoes on the road in front of the collectorate.
According to reports, some quantities of tomatoes were supplied by farmers to a number of schools in tribal pockets. Many traders have, meanwhile, purchased several truckloads of tomatoes and transported them to Bhubaneswar and other areas.
Farmers are a bit relieved over the improvement in tomato sale. However, those farmers, who have incurred losses from damage of tomatoes at farms, are worried about how to make up for the loss. With efforts of the local regulatory marketing committee, some traders have procured tomatoes from Padmapur area and supplied to Bhubaneswar at Rs 120 per tray.
Over 250 trays of tomatoes were purchased from Padmapur while tomatoes are being supplied to Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal for Rs 60 to Rs 100 per tray, it was learnt.
Many other traders have also initiated efforts to purchase and supply tomatoes to various parts of the state following the intervention of collector N Tirumala Nayak, who along with other officials had recently visited the farms and interacted with farmers.
Tomatoes are also being supplied to hostels of several schools run by the SC, ST and minorities welfare department in the district.
Meanwhile, the horticulture department has started making efforts to impart training to farmers on making tomato sauce.
Tomato farmers have demanded the revival of the defunct Tomato Orissa Ltd, a sauce and jam-making unit, and setting up of cold storages for vegetable preservation in the district. PNN
