As prices soar, armed guards protect tomatoes
With half-a-dozen armed security guards around a truck, you would think it is carrying some precious cargo such as jewellery or electronic goods.
In reality, the truck is actually carrying tomatoes.
With tomato prices going through the roof, there is a scramble to procure whatever is available and the risk of theft has increased.
Ironically, many farmers in Madhya Pradesh dumped tomatoes on the roads earlier this year after a bumper production that brought its price to lower than ₹1 per kg about month ago.
But now, it is the most expensive vegetable and in Indore’s Devi Ahilya Bai Holker vegetable mandi, it has to be guarded by armed security men.
The sudden shortage of tomatoes has led to increase in the rate of the vegetable with prices in some cases being quoted at ₹100 per kg.
“Security of tomatoes with its skyrocketing prices is of considerable concern for wholesalers. Thieves attacked a tomato-laden truck and looted 2,600kg tomatoes in Mumbai on July 15. This has added to Indore businessmen’s concern,” said Santosh Narang, a wholesaler at the mandi.
To keep the tomatoes safe, the businessmen asked for security arrangements from the mandi administration, which appointed half a dozen armed guards.
According to mandi administration, more than 11 trucks arrived in the mandi on Saturday. The tomatoes are being sold in the presence of guards.
Mandi inspector Ramesh Sawadiya said, “The businessmen had given a letter demanding proper security arrangements, particularly during unloading of trucks laden with tomatoes. The guards have been deployed after that request.”