Incessant rains in Henval valley seem to have left the farmers in dire straits with a disease having set in tomato resulting in their rotting fast. This is making it difficult for the growers even to meet the costs of seeds, manure and pesticides used to grow the crop. If rains continue this way for the upcoming days other vegetables grown by them like cabbage might be affected too.
The tomato growers in Henval valley are facing the maximum brunt of things, as the crops grown largely in villages like Nangani, Jaddhar, Khadi, Palas, Bhatusen and Bhandar are rotting. Around 60 per cent of the crop has been hit.
Over 800 metric tons of tomato is grown in the area. But this year the rains have left the growers’ hard work to utter ruin as the tomato were affected in early stages of the plants’ growth.
Rajendra Singh, Dharma Singh and Balwant Singh-all growers of tomato- said the rains had dashed their hopes as they had expected a bumper crop this year. According to environmentalist Vijay Nadhdhari, the intensity of the sun rays followed by continuous rains have caused the tomato to rot. He suggested the growers be imparted scientific training to enable them to stop or at least minimize the extent of damage vagaries of weather spawn.