Tomato bonanza: Maharashtra farmer becomes millionaire; earns Rs 1.5 crore in a month

Pune: As the tomato prices continue to soar in the country, a farmer from Pune district in Maharashtra has struck gold. Tukaram Bhagoji Gayakar and his family have raked in over Rs 1.5 crore in just one month by selling 13,000 crates of tomatoes.

By selling a single tomato crate in Narayanganj, the farmer managed to earn Rs 2,100 in a day. On Friday, Gayakar sold about 900 crates, resulting in a staggering Rs 18 lakh in earnings within a single day.

With the help of his son Ishwar Gayakar and daughter-in-law Sonali, Tukaram cultivates tomatoes on 12 out of his 18 acres of agricultural land. The family claimed that they produce the best quality tomatoes, thanks to their understanding of fertilizers and pesticides that protects their crop from pests and ensure its safety.

During the previous month, Tukaram successfully sold tomato crates at varying prices, ranging from Rs 1,000 to 2,400 per crate, depending on their quality. The remarkable success of tomato farming in Junnar, a city located in the Pune district, has turned several farmers into millionaires as the prices continue to remain high.

Last month, the local farm committee generated a revenue of Rs 80 crore through the sale of tomatoes. Media reports say that, apart from generating revenue for the cultivators, tomato cultivation provides employment to over 100 women from the area.

Tukaram’s daughter-in-law handles the cultivation part, including planting, harvesting and packaging, his son handles the sales and market side.

At the market of Jhunnu Agricultural Produce Market Committee in Narayanganj, the top price for crates of high-quality tomatoes (weighing 20kgs) has reached Rs 2,500, equivalent to Rs 125 per kg.