MINGORA: Tomato of Swat is in great demand due to its shortage throughout the country and as such the farmers here have been earning huge profits.

The farmers said that they did not earn enough during the last few seasons because other areas in the country also produced tomato crop in plenty.

“Last year, I suffered loss as the yield could not even earn me its expenses. This season tomato from Swat has huge demand because the crop from other areas of the country remained low,” said Iftikhar Ali, a tomato farmer in Ghaligey area.

The area from Manyar to Thana and Shamozo region in Swat valley is famous for growing tomato and according to the agriculture department the Swat region produced over 50,000 tons of tomato every year, which was supplied to different parts of the country besides Afghanistan.

“This year, a box of tomato is sold for Rs1,200 compared to its price of Rs400 the previous year. We send it to Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and other vegetable markets,” said Sher Zada, another local farmer. He said that over 5,000 farmers grew tomato this year in Swat.

“This season, I am earning good money and I will be able to return my debts and buy new clothes and shoes for my children and other family members,” said Mohammad Tahir.

However, those who work in the tomato fields are getting the same daily wages as in the previous year. “My daily wage is Rs700, the same as in the previous year, so there is no change in my income,” said Iqbal Mand, a resident of Barikot who works as tomato picker in the field.

This year, the price of tomato reached Rs400 per kilogramme while the price in Swat is Rs180 per kilogramme.

Akbar Ali, a vegetable vendor in Mingora, said that people had cut the use of tomato because of its high prices. Some daily wagers in Mingora said that they could not afford to buy tomato and stopped using it in their food.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2019