In an effort to further alleviate pricing concerns, the government will be making tomatoes available at a cost of INR 40 per kilogram starting from August 20.
Due to the ongoing decrease in tomato prices in both wholesale and retail markets, the consumer affairs department has instructed NAFED and NCCF to commence selling tomatoes at a rate of INR 40 per kilogram starting from August 20th.
The Consumer Affairs Ministry on Friday announced the decision, saying that till date more than 15 lakh kg of tomatoes have been procured by NAFED and NCCF since July 14.
Over the past month, the two agencies have provided tomatoes at subsidized prices across various regions in the country, including Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
Initially set at INR 90 per kilogram, the retail cost of tomatoes acquired by NAFED and NCCF has witnessed a reduction over the past month, reaching INR 50 per kilogram as of August 15. The government now intends to offer them for sale at INR 40 per kilogram starting August 20th.
In response to a significant escalation in tomato prices over the past two months, the government initiated the procurement of tomatoes from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra to mitigate the price surge.
Retail inflation experienced an upswing in July, reaching 7.44 percent, primarily attributed to elevated food prices. This surge led to food inflation reaching 11.51 percent during the same period.
