The continuous rains have hit the tomato crop in Uttarakhand with cultivators finding it difficult to even meet the costs of seeds, manure and pesticides. The farmers in Rawain valley and Henvel valley are afraid that if the rains continued in this manner, the other vegetables like cabbage could be affected as well.
According to farmers, more than half of their crop had been affected. This was also likely to hit the tomato supply next season, resulting in price hike.
The rains in the last few days in Henval valley has caused patches and rot in tomato being cultivated on large scale in villages of Nangani, Jaddhar, Khadi, Palas, Bhatusen, Bhandar. The farmers used to get a good price for their produce of over 800 metric tonne tomato in the area. According to farmers in Henvel, they were hoping for a bumper crop this year but the rains have ruined around half of their crop. Similar is the case with tomato growers in Rawain valley. Due to continuous heavy rains, tomato crop worth hundreds of thousands had become rotten in dozens of villages including Puraula, Chandeli, Arakot, Kuphara, Pujeri, Khaladi, Netri, Chhibala and Naugaons Banal Patti and Mori.The fruits on their plants show pale, small tomatoes marred with black patches.
Environmentalist Vijay Jadhdhari has expressed concern over the loss and blamed the climate change for the problem. There was a spell of intense sun, then suddenly there are heavy rains for a long spell, causing a rot in the plants. Many plants have shriveled because of this, he said.
Mr Jadhdhari also stressed that farmers must be trained in making the best of scientific as well as traditional farming to meet the challenge of changing weather.
