The steep rise in the prices of tomatoes is forcing farmers in Karnataka to guard their crop, as it is being stolen by miscreants. Tomato prices have crossed Rs 100 and they are even sold for Rs 150 per kilogram. The farmers are forced to sleep at their farms and take turns guarding the crop ready to be harvested. The monsoon rains have made the situation worse.

The farmers are erecting tents at their farm land to monitor the movement of the people and vehicles. They state that they need to be more vigilant in the early hours. One box of tomatoes fetches between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,000 and farmers who reaped a good crop are earning in lakhs.