In Great Relief On Skyrocketing Tomato Prices, Centre Starts Sale At

 Fresh tomatoes from mandis in the important tomato-growing regions of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra arrived in the nation's capital overnight.

The government has responded to the escalating prices of tomatoes by announcing its plans to sell them at a reduced rate of ₹90 per kilogram in major cities like Delhi-NCR, Lucknow, and Patna. This initiative aims to alleviate the burden on consumers who have been affected by the soaring costs. Freshly procured tomatoes from key tomato-growing states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, have been swiftly transported to the national capital.

According to an official statement released on Wednesday, these tomato stocks will be made available to consumers at discounted prices through retail outlets in the Delhi NCR region by the end of the week. The National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) office at Rajnigandha Chowk in Noida, along with mobile vans operating in Greater Noida and other locations, will facilitate the sale of tomatoes.

The NCCF plans to expand its sales operations to additional cities such as Lucknow, Kanpur, and Jaipur over the weekend. In Delhi, the NCCF will commence tomato sales on Friday morning at 12:15 pm across all 11 districts using 30 mobile vans. Initial estimates suggest that approximately 17,000 kilograms of tomatoes will be sold on the first day. As the sale progresses, the quantity is expected to increase to 20,000 kilograms on Saturday and eventually reach 40,000 kilograms per day.

To provide relief to consumers who have been forced to purchase tomatoes at exorbitant prices, the central government instructed agricultural marketing agencies, namely the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the NCCF, to immediately procure tomatoes. In the past month, consumers have had to pay as high as ₹150 to ₹160 per kilogram, with prices even reaching ₹224 per kilogram in certain regions. The central government will absorb the losses incurred in fixing the sale price at ₹90 per kilogram, while the procurement rate stands at ₹120-130 per kilogram, according to NCCF Managing Director Anice Joseph Chandra.

The government attributes the significant price increase to the challenges posed by the monsoon season, which leads to distribution difficulties and increased transit losses. Furthermore, tomatoes have a relatively short shelf life. The months of lean tomato production usually occur from July to August and October to November. The southern and western regions of India contribute 56-58 percent of the country's total tomato production. These surplus states supply to other markets depending on the production seasons, with the peak harvesting season taking place from December to February.

Conclusion:

In response to the surging tomato prices, the government has taken decisive action to alleviate the burden on consumers. By selling tomatoes at a reduced rate of ₹90 per kilogram, the government aims to provide relief and counter the soaring costs. This initiative, spearheaded by the NCCF, will commence in major cities, including Delhi-NCR, and gradually expand to other locations. Through this effort, the government seeks to stabilize prices and ensure the availability of affordable tomatoes to the public.