The Centre has decided to sell tomatoes at Rs 80 per kg from Sunday and the same has begun at several points each in Delhi, Noida, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Patna, Muzaffarpur and Arrah through National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), reported the news agency ANI. The decision was taken after a re-assessment of the situation from across 500 plus points in the country, the agency further added.
"After a re-assessment of the situation from across 500 plus points in the country, it has been decided to sell the tomatoes at Rs 80 per kg from today, July 16th. Sales have started today at several points each in Delhi, Noida, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Patna, Muzaffarpur and Arrah through NAFED and NCCF. It will be expanded to more cities from tomorrow depending upon the prevailing market prices at such locations," said the Government of India, as quoted by ANI.
According to PTI, Consumer Affairs Secretary said, "Govt reduces subsidised rate of tomato to Rs 80/kg from Rs 90/kg with immediate effect in Delhi-NCR, other locations."
Tomato prices continue to remain high in retail markets on Saturday reaching up to Rs 250 per kilogramme across major cities due to monsoon rains and lean season, reported PTI. It added that the all-India average price stood at nearly Rs 117 per kg, according to government data. The Centre started selling tomatoes at a discounted Rs 90 per kg in select cities like Delhi-NCR, Patna and Lucknow on Satuday. As per PTI, about 18,000 kgs were sold in Delhi-NCR on Saturday through mobile vans.
NCCF and NAFED are selling tomatoes on behalf of the Centre through mobile vans. Union Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh tweeted, "In addition to various parts of Delhi and Noida, sale of tomatoes at discounted rates started today at Lucknow, Patna and Muzaffarpur."
The department of consumer affairs said in a statement that about 18,000 kg of tomatoes were sold across Delhi-NCR to retail consumers, reported PTI.
"It seems to have made an impact as today there was sharp drop in Azadpur Mandi (wholesale) price and slight dip in retail price," it added. The department further said, "We initiated sale in Lucknow today and 7,000 kg was sold. Tomorrow, we will intervene in the retail market in Kanpur also while continuing the interventions in Delhi and Lucknow."
The NCCF plans to sell tomatoes through 100-odd Kendriya Bhandar outlets in the national capital from Sunday onwards. It is in talks with Mother Dairy to sell tomatoes through their 400 Safal retail outlets in Delhi-NCR.
As per the data compiled by the Department of Consumer Affairs, the average all-India retail price of tomatoes was ruling at Rs 116.86 per kg on Saturday, while the maximum rate was Rs 250 per kg and the minimum was Rs 25 per kg. The modal price of tomatoes is Rs 100 per kg, PTI mentioned in its report.
As per the report, among metros, tomatoes were ruling at Rs 178 per kg in Delhi, followed by Rs 150 per kg in Mumbai, and Rs 132 per kg in Chennai. The maximum price of Rs 250 per kg was in Hapur.
Notably, tomato prices normally shoot up during July-August and October-November periods, which are generally lean production months. The supply disruption occurred due to the monsoon that has led to a sharp rise in the rates.
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