In response to the decrease in tomato prices within wholesale markets, the government has instructed the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) and NAFED to commence retail sales of tomatoes at INR 50 per kilogram starting August 15th.
Coincidentally, the directive coincides with a day when India’s consumer price index (CPI), a measure of retail inflation, surged significantly to 7.44 percent in July. This increase can be attributed to the escalation in food prices, with food inflation experiencing a substantial leap of 11.51 percent. This spike is mainly due to elevated prices of essentials such as tomatoes, cereals, pulses, and dairy products.
Initially, the retail price of tomatoes obtained by NCCF and NAFED was set at INR 90 per kilogram. Subsequently, this price was revised to INR 80 per kilogram starting from July 16, 2023, and further lowered to INR 70 per kilogram beginning July 20.
According to official sources, this recent adjustment to INR 50 per kilogram will provide additional advantages to consumers.
As per the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, over the past month, the two agencies have acquired a cumulative total of 15 lakh kilograms of tomatoes (until August 13). These tomatoes are being consistently distributed to retail consumers in significant consumption hubs across the nation.
These areas encompass Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan (Jaipur, Kota), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj), and Bihar (Patna, Muzaffarpur, Arrah, Buxar).
In recent days, NCCF has notably augmented the volume of tomatoes supplied to retail consumers by strategically deploying mobile vans at 70 sites throughout Delhi, as well as 15 locations within Noida and Greater Noida.
Furthermore, NCCF is consistently engaging in retail tomato sales via the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform.
According to official sources, the government initiated the acquisition of tomatoes from marketplaces in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. These tomatoes are being distributed concurrently in significant consumption hubs where retail prices have observed the most substantial surge over the past month.