Saturday, 15 July 2023, Bengaluru, India
The government has begun selling household essentials at reduced costs in retail marketplaces in New Delhi and other significant cities with strong demand at a time when tomato prices have increased by more than 300 percent in several areas of the nation. The government has begun selling tomatoes at reduced costs in key cities today. The cost of tomatoes ranges from Rs 100 to Rs 200 per kilogram, depending on the nation’s region.
Tomatoes are being sold by the National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) for Rs 90 per kilogram. The responsibility of selling tomatoes at a discount has been assigned to at least 20 mobile vans. Moreover, tomatoes are being offered throughout Delhi-NCR at reduced prices at NCCF retail locations. In the capital city, tomatoes are sold at retail shops and stalls in Okhla and Nehru Palace.
After dealing with the short-lived crisis, tomatoes are said to return to regular prices, as per the latest reports. The NCCD and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) will also offer discounted tomatoes in other significant cities where prices have increased due to considerable demand.
The reports of tomatoes’ fall in price comes after the whole situation related to tomatoes was taken over by the NCCD and NAFED. The consumer affairs ministry mentioned in its report that the NCCD and NAFED would undertake the sale of tomatoes to tackle the rising prices.
The NCCD and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) will also offer discounted tomatoes in other significant cities where prices have increased due to considerable demand.
In Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, tomatoes would be supplied at reduced prices, according to Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh to news agency PTI. Cities like Patna, Varanasi, Kanpur, and Kolkata will have access to it. Sales are anticipated to begin over the weekend in additional cities with considerable demand.
Rohit mentioned in his statement that in the coming days, the sale of tomatoes will see new light as tomatoes will be sold at a considerably lower price than the prevailing prices. Rohit further adds that the prices will get into effect soon, and the people of Delhi can savor tomatoes again.
The tomato prices that have been through the roof have been under much greater debate than anything in the country for the past few days. It was against the common man’s interest, and consumers had to avoid buying tomatoes.
With prices reaching sky-high, consumers had to suffer. But, with the new system in place and NCCD and NAFED dealing with the tomato crisis, it is soon to return to normal, and people can afford to eat tomatoes again. Rohit says that this news would be of some relief to the consumers.
Reports suggest that both NCCD and NAFED will follow close steps to obtain tomatoes from key-producing areas in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. These tomatoes will be sold in regions with greater consumption and higher retail price.
Rohit Singh says in a statement that it will be the first time that the organization will follow such a process to stabilize a tomato crisis. Rohit also mentions that the team has ample amount of experience as they had followed the same process when onion prices rocketed.
The sale of tomatoes at reduced costs, according to the consumer affairs secretary, will continue until prices stabilize, which is probably at the start of August.
Source- India Today
