Berhampur: The vegetable farmers in Ganjam are facing a difficult situation with the price of tomato having plummeted to between Rs 25 and Rs 30 for every 25kg.

Dharanidhar Nahak of Madhurchuhan in Ganjam block had produced tomatoes in five acres this season with his brother.

"The sale price is very low and it will be even lower than the wages of the labourer to pluck the tomatoes. So we have decided not to pluck the tomatoes any more," he said.

Sabitri Nahak of Sipakuda has earned Rs 8,500 by selling the tomatoes as compared to her expenditure of Rs 84,000 on one acre of land. "I borrowed Rs 40,000 as agricultural loan from a bank, Rs 25,000 from the Andhra Pradesh money lenders at an interest of 10 per cent a month, borrowed Rs 15,000 for purchasing of chemicals and pesticides and Rs 4,000 as labour charge to pluck the tomatoes. But I could sell the tomatoes at the rate of Rs 30 for 25kg," she said.

Prakash Chandra Nayak, naib sarpanch of Sana Ramchandrapur, said: "Tomatoes produced in more than 400 acres are now still on the field and the farmers have stopped harvesting them."

"The traders are not even agreeing to purchase tomatoes at Rs 2 a kg from the farmers," he said.

Deputy director, horticulture, Padma Lochan Das said the tomato was a perishable commodity and could not be preserved for more than 10 days. Consequently, provision of cold storages is not a solution.

He said: "We can make tomato products such as sauce, purée, chutney and other products that are abundantly used in our kitchens and other eateries."

The issue of distress sale of tomato rocked the Assembly on Friday with Congress and BJP members taking it up. As soon as the House assembled on Friday morning, Congress members rushed to the well and shouted slogans near the Speaker's podium showing tomatoes and newspaper reports. Later, the BJP members joined the protest.

Unable to run the House, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings twice till afternoon.

Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra urged the Speaker to adjourn the House immediately and convene an all party meet to find the way out. Mishra was supported by BJP Legislature Party leader K.V. Singh Deo.

"The problem of distress sale be sorted out on priority basis," he said.