Tomato farmer from Andhra turns millionaire, earns Rs 4 crore in 45 days

Amid skyrocketing prices of tomatoes, a farmer couple in Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor district sold 40,000 boxes of tomatoes and raked in a whopping Rs 3 crore in the span of 45 days.

Chandramouli, a tomato farmer, who has a 22-acre farming land on which he sowed a rare variety of tomato plant in the first week of April. He implemented advanced techniques like mulching and micro-irrigation methods to get the yield faster. He succeeded in his attempts as he got the tomato yield by the end of June.

He sold his produce at Kolar market in Karnataka, which is close to his native place. At the market, the price of a 15 kg crate of tomatoes was ranging between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 when he sold 40,000 boxes in the last 45 days.

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While expressing his happiness as the tomato prices soared, Chandramouli said, "From the produce I got so far, I have earned Rs 4 crore. Overall, I had to invest Rs 1 crore in my 22 acres of land to get the yield and this includes commission and transportation charges. So, profits remain to be Rs 3 crore."

Meanwhile, Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh, which boasts one of the biggest tomato markets in India, has been witnessing the price of tomato soaring as the per-kg price of first-grade tomato reportedly jumped to a staggering Rs 200 on Friday (July 28).

Traders in huge numbers flocked to the market to buy tomatoes on Friday. The first-grade tomatoes are reportedly being exported to northern cities.

Two weeks ago, a crate of 25 kg was being sold for Rs 3,000, which is Rs 120 per kg. However, now the increase in demand for tomatoes in the other states has seen the price rise to Rs 200 per kg. The officials reportedly said that the soaring price of tomatoes would continue till the end of August.