In a move aimed at providing relief to consumers, the Department of Consumer Affairs has instructed the National Consumer Cooperative Federation (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) to sell tomatoes at a retail price of Rs.50/- per kg starting from August 15, 2023. This decision comes in response to the recent decline in tomato prices within wholesale markets.
The retail sale of tomatoes was started in the Delhi-NCR region from July 14, 2023. Since then, a significant quantity of 15 lakh kg of tomatoes has been procured collectively by NCCF and NAFED till August 13, 2023. These agencies have ensured the efficient distribution of tomatoes to major consumption centers across the nation, including Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan (Jaipur, Kota), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj), and Bihar (Patna, Muzaffarpur, Arrah, Buxar).
Initially set at Rs.90/- per kg, the retail price of tomatoes procured by NCCF and NAFED has undergone a series of reductions to address consumer affordability. It was reduced to Rs.80/- per kg on July 16, 2023, followed by a further reduction to Rs.70/- per kg on July 20, 2023. The latest reduction to Rs.50/- per kg is anticipated to provide greater relief to consumers.
NCCF has undertaken measures to ensure widespread availability of tomatoes by deploying mobile vans at 70 locations across Delhi and 15 locations in Noida and Greater Noida. Additionally, NCCF is also continuously doing retail sale of tomato through the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform.
It is important to note that the procurement of tomatoes by NCCF and NAFED was initiated in accordance with the Department of Consumer Affairs' guidance. These tomatoes were sourced from markets in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, where retails prices have recorded maximum increase in last one month.
The Department of Consumer Affairs' proactive approach in regulating tomato prices showcases the government's commitment to ensuring essential commodities remain affordable for all citizens.
