The Centre on Wednesday announced further reduction in the price of subsidised tomatoes in a bid to ease the burden of high retail prices on the common man. From Thursday, the price of subsidised tomatoes will come down from Rs 80 per kg to Rs 70 per kg.
At present, the government is providing tomatoes at a subsidised rate of Rs 80 per kg in Delhi-NCR and other major cities through the National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED ). ).
“The Department of Consumer Affairs has directed NCCF and NAFED to sell tomatoes at a retail price of Rs 70 per kg with effect from July 20, 2023, in view of the declining trend in tomato prices . “, Initially, it was reduced to Rs 90 per kg and then to Rs 80 per kg with effect from July 16, 2023,” the government said in a statement . The reduction of Rs 70 per kg will further benefit consumers. While the average retail prices of tomatoes across India are currently around Rs 120 per kg, prices have touched Rs 245 per kg in some regions . However, rates have come down to Rs 120 per kg in the national capital.
As per the government’s directives, , NCCF and NAFED, started procuring tomatoes from wholesale markets in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. These tomatoes are then distributed to major consumption centres where retail prices have seen a significant rise in the last month.
The retail sale of tomatoes in Delhi-NCR started on July 14, 2023. A total of 391 tonnes of tomatoes had been procured by the two agencies till July 18, 2023, which is being continuously sold to major consumption retail consumers. Centres in Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar,” the statement said.
According to data from the Department of Consumer Affairs, the average retail price of tomatoes in India on Wednesday was Rs 119.29 per kg. The maximum retail price touched Rs 245 per kg, while the minimum was Rs 40 per kg and the model price was Rs 120 per kg.
Tomato prices in the national capital dropped to an average of Rs 120 per kg on Thursday from Rs 178 per kg, on Sunday . Among other major cities, tomatoes were being sold at Rs 155 per kg in Mumbai, Rs 132 per kg in Chennai and Rs 143, per kg in Kolkata . Tomato prices usually rise during the low production months of July-August and October-November. Tomato rates have increased significantly due to monsoon-induced supply disruption.
