Central Govt slashes price of tomatoes, know new price
Tomatoes get cheaper: In a major relief to consumers, the central government directed the marketing agencies- NAFED and NCCF – to sell tomatoes at Rs 70 per kg instead of Rs 80.
A good news as the consumers will be able to buy tomatoes at revised rates.
Initially the price of tomato was at Rs 90 per kg, and then reduced to Rs 80 per kg and now to Rs 70.
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Amid a sharp spurt in tomato prices across the country, the agencies -- NCCF and NAFED – had commenced the procurement of tomato from mandis in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra for simultaneous disposal in major consumption centers where retail prices have recorded maximum increase in last one month.
“The retail sale of tomatoes in Delhi-NCR had started from 14th July, 2023. Till 18th July, 2023 a total of 391 MT of tomato had been procured by the two agencies which are being continuously disposed of to the retail consumers in major consumption centres of Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, UP and Bihar,” said the government release today.
While in some cities the price of tomato has been reduced, meanwhile in other key cities, it rose to as high as Rs 150-200 per kg.
The government attributed the rise in prices to the monsoon season, saying that it added to further challenges related to distribution and increased transit losses.
Tomatoes have a relatively lower shelf life.
Currently, the supplies coming to markets in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and some other states are mostly from Maharashtra especially Satara, Narayangaon, and Nashik, which is expected to last till this month end.
Notably, the rise in tomato and other vegetable prices was reflected in the June retail inflation data.
Bucking the trend, retail inflation in India rose considerably in June to 4.81 per cent from 4.31 in May, largely due to a sharp spurt in vegetable prices. Besides vegetables, meat and fish; eggs; pulses and products; spices too saw an uptick in June.
- With inputs from agencies
