Despite having Asia’s largest tomato market yard at Madanapalle, the households of the Rayalaseema region are in a fix owing to to a sudden spurt in the price of tomato at ₹60 a kg on Saturday, from ₹10 last month, at the vegetable markets.
Tomato growers, traders, and consumers admit that they are stunned at the overnight price hike, unlike the steady rise during demand seasons.
The core belt of tomato cultivation spreads over Madanapalle, Gurramkonda, Valmikipuram, Kalikiri, Kalakada, and Kurabalakota mandals of Annamayya, and Palamaner and Punganur mandals of Chittoor districts.
