As Government Launches Sale at Lower Prices, Tomato Prices Drop
To alleviate the financial strain on consumers, the Indian government has introduced the sale of tomatoes at a subsidized rate of ₹90 per kilogram in selected cities, including Delhi-NCR, Lucknow, and Patna. This initiative aims to combat the surging tomato prices, which have recently hit record highs. The implementation of the subsidized sale has resulted in tomato prices drop, providing much-needed relief to consumers.
Fresh Tomato Supplies Arrive:
To ensure the efficient distribution of tomatoes, fresh supplies have been procured from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra and transported overnight to the national capital. An official release stated that these tomato stocks would be made available at retail outlets in the Delhi NCR region at discounted prices by the end of the week.
Read more:- Tomato Prices Soared To Over Rs 100. What’s Driving The Price Hike?
In Noida, the sale of tomatoes will take place at the NCCF office located at Rajnigandha Chowk, as well as through mobile vans stationed in Greater Noida and other areas, as per officials’ statements. The sale will gradually expand to other cities such as Lucknow, Kanpur, and Jaipur over the weekend.
Tomato Sale Gains Momentum:
In Delhi, the sale commenced on Friday through 20 mobile vans and five centers spread across all 11 districts. On the first day alone, approximately 17,000 kilograms of tomatoes were sold. NCCF Chairman Vishal Singh clarified that the subsidized rates would be limited to 2 kilograms per customer. As the sale gains momentum, the quantity of tomatoes sold is expected to rise to around 20,000 kilograms on Saturday and eventually reach 40,000 kilograms per day.
Government Addresses Tomato Price Surge:
The decision to procure tomatoes at an urgent rate was prompted by the government’s directive to the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF). This directive aimed to provide relief to consumers who have been burdened by the exorbitant prices of tomatoes, which reached as high as ₹150 to ₹160 per kilogram in the past month. In some regions, prices even soared to ₹224 per kilogram, a significant surge compared to the usual range of ₹20-30 per kilogram.
Monsoon Season Affects Tomato Prices:
The government attributes the sharp price rise to the challenges posed by the monsoon season, which includes difficulties in distribution and increased transit losses. Additionally, the relatively short shelf life of tomatoes exacerbates the situation. The lean production months for tomatoes typically occur during July-August and October-November. The southern and western regions of India contribute significantly to tomato production, accounting for 56-58% of the country’s total output.
Several factors, such as variations in planting and harvesting seasons across different regions, temporary disruptions in the supply chain, and crop damage due to adverse weather conditions, contribute to price seasonality and sudden spikes in tomato prices. Data from the Department of Consumer Affairs indicates that tomato prices have risen by an average of ₹60-100 per kilogram this month compared to early June prices in retail markets.
Read more:- Shocking: No More Tomatoes In Your McDonald’s Burger?
Tomato Prices Surge in Major Cities:
Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata have experienced exponential increases in tomato prices, with rates soaring from ₹20 per kilogram in early June to ₹110, ₹117, ₹100, and ₹148, respectively.
Freshly procured tomatoes arrive in Delhi, to be sold at Rs 90/kg starting today.#Tomato #Delhi #Vegetables #TomatoPrices #NAFED #NCCF #Inflation #FoodInflation pic.twitter.com/RibTHEqGOz
— BN Adhikari, IIS(Rtd) (@AdhikariBN) July 14, 2023
The sale of tomatoes at subsidized rates aims to provide immediate relief to consumers and stabilize prices while simultaneously addressing challenges related to procurement, distribution, and market dynamics.
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