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Organic Tomato Profile

Totamato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the most popular vegetable and is the world�s largest vegetable crop after potato and sweet potato. It is said to be the native of tropical America. World produces around 117 million tons of tomatoes from an area of 43 lakh hectares (average of 2001 to 2005). Globally, China is the largest tomato producing country almost contributing for 25% of world�s tomato production. The production in China during 2005 was During 2005 China was 31.64 million tons followed by USA with 12.76 million tons, Turkey 9.7 million tons, Italy 7.81 million tons and India and Egypt each with 7.6 million tons. These six countries contributed for around 60% of world�s tomatoes production. In India, annual production is 86 lakh tons which is 8.5% of the total vegetable production. Tomato occupies an area of 4.97 lakh hectares and it is about 7.3% of the total cropped land under vegetables. Tomato is widely grown across various states in the country. The states of Orissa (15%), Andhra Pradesh (14%), Karnataka (11%), Maharashtra (10%), West Bengal (8%) and Gujarat (5%) contribute more than 60% of the total Indian production. Tomato consumption in India is increasing gradually. Per capita consumption of tomato increased from 4.42 kg to 6.63 Kilogram annually during the period from 1991 to 2004 (FAO Report)

Improved varieties Yield (Q/ha)

Sioux 350

Pusa Early Dwarf 395

Co-1 380

CO 2 300

Punjab Chhuhara 200

PKM 1 300

Pusa Ruby 250

Paiyur-1 300

Arka Ashish 350

Arka Abha 250

Arka Alok 350

Shakthi 250

Hybrid varieties

Arka Vishal 750

Arka Vardan (FM Hybrid-2) 750

Pusa Hybrid 1 320

Pusa Hybrid 2 600

COTH 1 Hybrid Tomato 960

BRH-1 and BRH-2 (Arka Abhijit Arka Shresta) 690

Vaishali 600

Rupali 700

Naveen 700

Avinash 2 1200

MTH 4 800

Sadabahar 900

Gulmohar 900

Sonali 750

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Harvesting

Market tomatoes are ready for picking when the green colour begins to lighten. They are then still firm and well transportable.The full red colour develops just as well in storage as it does in the open, but not at temperatures over than 320C. In the vicinity of the market, it is advisable to pick in the pink or red condition so that the fruit appears more attractive. They continue to ripen slowly over the next several weeks. Whole plants may be uprooted and hung in sheltered locations, where fruit continues to ripen.

Harvest Seasons of Tomato in India

Source: National Horticulture Board, India

Price volatility

Due to its high perishability in nature and disturbances in production and supply, tomato prices witness a high degree of volatility. The volatility percent in recent years were 40, 48, 44, 30 and 58 in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal respectively.