Bargarh: After Ganjam, a severe glut in tomato production has pushed farmers in Bargarh district into distress, with many forced to abandon crops midway due to unremunerative prices.
The crisis has emerged across several vegetable-growing pockets, mirroring the challenges often seen in paddy procurement.
Farmers say they are unable to recover even the basic cost of production, prompting them to leave a significant portion of their harvest uncollected in the fields.
The situation is particularly acute in areas under Gaisilet and Ambabhona blocks, including Ganiapali, Malamunda, Chatipali, Keremeli, Jadaganja, Jugibandhali, Talpali, Janakeda, Buromunda and Gaurenmunda, as well as Bara, Baddhara, Ruchida and Narangpur.
In Baddhara village, farmers Ramesh Behera and Suryakanta Behera have abandoned their tomato crops due to poor market demand. Similarly, Rabi Garia of Ghens under Tileimal panchayat, who cultivated tomatoes on 30 decimals of leased land, has left nearly half of his produce unharvested.
Farmers attribute the crisis to extremely low prices offered by traders, ranging from Rs 2 to Rs 3 per kilogram, making it financially unviable to harvest and transport the produce.
The lack of adequate cold storage facilities in the district has further compounded the problem.
Without proper storage infrastructure, farmers are unable to preserve their produce and are forced into distress sales or crop abandonment.
Ramesh Mohapatra, adviser to a joint farmers’ organisation, has urged the government to establish sufficient cold storage units in every block of the district to prevent such recurring losses and safeguard farmers’ interests.