Pune: Amidst a significant surge in tomato prices nationwide, a farmer from the Pune district in Maharashtra has reportedly generated an astonishing revenue of over Rs 2.8 crore through the sale of tomatoes.
Ishwar Gayakar, aged 36, and his wife, residents of Junnar taluka in Pune, have ambitious plans to continue their success story. With approximately 4,000 crates of tomatoes in their possession, the determined farmer couple aims to surpass their previous achievement and target an impressive revenue of Rs 3.5 crore.
“This is not something I have earned in one day. I have been cultivating tomatoes on my 12-acre farm for the last six-seven years now. I have also incurred losses several times, but I have never left my hopes. In 2021, I had made a loss of rupees 18-20 lakhs but I did not stop,” said Gayakar.
Reflecting on his profits, Gayakar shared, ‘This year, I have cultivated tomatoes on 12 acres, and till today, I have sold around 17000 crates priced between Rs 770 to Rs 2311 per crate. So in total, I have earned Rs 2.8 crore till now.”
“I still have a stock of around 3000 to 4000 crates of tomatoes at my farm. So if you calculate, my total earnings this year would go up to around Rs 3.5 crore,” added Gayakar.
Gaykar has been farming since 2005, taking over from his father. Initially cultivating tomatoes on an acre, he now works with his wife on a 12-acre farm. Additionally, they cultivate onions and flowers during their respective seasons.
In a move aimed at providing relief to consumers amidst skyrocketing tomato prices, the Centre has decided to reduce the wholesale price of tomatoes from Rs 90 to Rs 80 per kg. Following a re-evaluation of the market situation, this price revision was implemented on Sunday in several cities, including Delhi, Noida, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Arrah.
The National Agriculture Cooperation Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Consumer Cooperation Federation (NCCF) will oversee the implementation of the revised prices, as stated in an official release.
Tomato prices have experienced a notable increase nationwide in the past few weeks due to limited supplies caused by rainfall in various regions. Many cities have witnessed prices hovering around Rs 100–160 per kilogram.
(With ANI Inputs)