The year 2025 exposed the fragile state of tomato farming in Rayalaseema, especially in Madanapalle, Annamayya district. This area is Asia’s largest tomato-growing belt, covering over 20,000 hectares, producing nearly 12 lakh tonnes annually. The market yard sees tomatoes arriving from across Chittoor and Annamayya districts, plus parts of Karnataka. Farmers started 2025 with hope. But a harsh summer from March to September pushed wholesale tomato prices to ₹60-₹80 per kg. Retail prices in cities like Tirupati and Chennai crossed ₹100 per kg. Yet, this price rise was short-lived. From January to March, prices crashed dramatically to ₹3-₹5 per kg, even below the field cost of ₹6-₹7 per kg. Heavy arrivals flooded the market, causing distress sales. Unusual weather worsened the situation. Rain and excess soil moisture damaged crops in western mandals early on. Fungal infections reduced marketable tomatoes. Heat stress from April caused fruit drop, cutting productivity by almost 40% in some areas. Officials estimate about 5,000 hectares of tomato crops were partially damaged across Rayalaseema. From October, heavy rains and cyclones Montha and Ditwah hit the region hard. "We spent nearly ₹1.2 lakh per acre, but sold tomatoes at ₹4 a kg. The market does not protect us," said Ramesh Naidu, a farmer from Tamballapalle. Small grower Sumathi from Kurabalakota shared, "As transport was costly and prices low, I fed the crop to cattle." By December, prices rose moderately to ₹40-₹60 per kg. But market arrivals dropped sharply to under 100 tonnes a day, compared to nearly 1,000 tonnes daily before 2018, showing big yield falls. Madanapalle supplies over half of Andhra Pradesh’s tomatoes. A senior official said, "Until 2016, Madanapalle was the undisputed king of India’s tomato trade. But expansion of tomato farming in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and northern states has cut exports. We urge farmers to switch crops, but few listen. This is a key cause of the ongoing crisis."