Tomato growers in Hosapete dump produce after finding no buyers

BALLARI: Tomatoes are being fed to sheep and goats in Hosapete of Vijayanagara district, as farmers are unable to sell them due to the lack of buyers.

The APMC in Hosapete receives 3-4 tractor loads of tomatoes daily, but no one is buying them. As a result, farmers are directly taking the produce to sheep and goat farms. The demand for tomatoes has decreased due to issues with commercial LPG cylinders affecting hotels and restaurants.

Farmers from surrounding areas like Harapanahalli, Hadagali, and Kottur are bringing their produce to Hosapete, only to see it go unsold.Instead of wasting the tomatoes, farmers are feeding them to sheep and goats. Some are even collecting the unsold tomatoes, onions and brinjals and taking them to the farms.

The situation is a result of the ongoing conflict in Middle East countries, which has affected the demand for tomatoes.