Downpour spells doom for Himachal tomato growers, prices dip

Continuous rainfall over the past fortnight has severely disrupted tomato harvesting in the Dharampur region, dealing a double blow to farmers — crop losses and transportation hurdles. The incessant downpour has not only damaged fields but also washed away several link roads, making it difficult to transport the produce to markets.

According to officials from the Dharampur-based Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC), tomato arrivals have dropped sharply since heavy rains began two weeks ago. The excess moisture has caused widespread spoilage, with cracked and rotten tomatoes piling up.

Sanjay Kumar, a veteran trader with over 20 years in the tomato business, said wastage has surged alarmingly. “Normally, about 10% of the crop is wasted during the season. This time, losses have shot up to nearly 30%,” he said. Prices too have taken a hit, sliding from Rs 45 per kg to Rs 35 per kg at Dharampur’s markets, where both early and late varieties are sold.

Excess water in fields has worsened the problem. Tomatoes need sunshine at this stage for proper ripening, but waterlogged conditions encourage diseases such as late blight and root rot. Moisture-heavy tomatoes also have a reduced shelf life, lowering their market appeal.

Dr Dev Raj Kashyap, Deputy Director of Agriculture, highlighted the risk: “Rain at harvest time makes tomatoes more vulnerable to disease and reduces their firmness, directly cutting down market value.” He recommended the use of fungicides to curb crop damage and stressed the importance of regular field drainage.

Data from the Solan APMC shows that 283,548 crates — each weighing 24 kg —have been sold this season. Prices per crate have ranged from Rs 600 to Rs 5,200, with an average of Rs 3,300. The premium Heemsohna variety fetched as much as Rs 216 per kg, while the lowest market rate touched Rs 25 per kg.

Tomato trading began on June 15 and will continue until mid-September. Farmers in the region grow tomatoes twice a year — once in February during the rabi season and again during the monsoon for a year-end harvest. However, from November to January, tomato cultivation halts as low temperatures affect flowering and fruit setting.

This year’s monsoon crop, however, has been severely hit. Damaged infrastructure, high spoilage rates and falling prices are threatening the livelihoods of growers, many of whom were banking on the season to recover from previous years’ losses. Unless weather conditions improve soon, experts fear the damage could extend beyond the current harvest, affecting the next sowing cycle as well.