Bengaluru, July 8 : The steep rise in the prices of tomatoes in the market is forcing the farmers in Karnataka to guard their crop in their farm lands as it is being stolen by the miscreants.

Tomato prices have crossed Rs 100 and they are even sold for Rs 150 per one 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 for them.

This scenario is commonly found in the south Karnataka districts of Kolar, Hassan where the crop is grown in large quantities.