Tomato fetches K800 per viss in NyaungU Tsp

The tomato growers in NyaungU Township, Mandalay Region receive a handsome profit with the high price of K800 per viss (a viss equals 1.6 kilogrammes) during the harvest time, said U Myo Nyunt, a grower from Thayat village, Lepanchaypaw village-tract in NyaungU Township.
The villages in NyaungU Township cultivate the tomato depending on groundwater resources. As the tomato fetches K800 per viss, the families are commercially doing well, said U Min Nyo, a grower from Kataw village.
Stake tomato, vining and bush tomato varieties are commonly found in the township. They are sent to markets of NyaungU, Pakokku and Myingyan cities.
During the abundant harvest time in March 2022, the tomato was priced at only K100 per viss. This is why growers cannot even cover the cost of agricultural input cost, said a grower.
There is a large price gap between the wholesale and retail prices when the transport cost is added amid the hike price of fuel oil, said a market observer.
The input cost doubled this year owing to high fertilizer prices and a hike in fuel oil prices. A big slump in prices caused a huge loss to the growers in early 2022.
During December last year, low supply drove the price up. The tomato fetched up to K2,400-K2,500 per viss in the Mandalay market. — Ko Htein, KK/GNLM