April 25,2022
TOMATO growers from Taunggyi Township, Shan State are battered by the lowest price this year and some growers even dispose them of, said a grower from Taunggyi Township.
Growers in hill regions extend acreage as they received higher price last year, resulting in excess supply. Tomatoes are flooding the market at present and bringing down the prices, said a trader.
The tomato is priced only K100-K200 per viss (a viss equals to 1.6 kg). This being so, the growers cannot even cover the cost of agricultural input cost, he elaborated. There is a large price gap between the wholesale and retail prices, when the transportation cost is added amid the hike price of fuel oil, said a market observer. The input cost doubled this year owing to high fertilizer price and hike in fuel oil prices. Big slump in prices causes a huge loss to the growers in 2022.
During December last year, low supply drove the price up. The tomato fetched up to K2,400-K2,500 per viss.—KK/ GNLM
