To control the rising tomato prices in the retail market, the Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, Mrs. Nidhi Khare, today flagged off vans from the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Limited (NCCF), selling tomatoes at the subsidized rate of Rs 65 per kilogram in Delhi-NCR.
NCCF has taken the initiative to directly procure tomatoes from wholesale markets and sell them at reduced rates. This market intervention aims to shield consumers from the sharp increase in tomato prices seen in recent weeks, while also preventing intermediaries from making excessive profits. In addition to tomatoes, NCCF is also supplying onions from the government's buffer stock at Rs 35 per kilogram in major cities.
Recent weeks, retail tomato prices have surged unexpectedly despite adequate supply arriving in wholesale markets. This spike is attributed to quality deterioration caused by excessive moisture due to prolonged monsoon rains in major tomato-producing states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Moreover, increased demand during the festive season and the involvement of intermediaries has also been identified as contributing factors to the price hike.
NCCF's intervention highlights the organization’s commitment to promoting fair trade practices, ensuring price stability, and protecting consumer interests. By engaging directly with farmers and offering tomatoes at subsidized prices, NCCF is playing a vital role in mitigating the impact of price fluctuations.
Senior officials from the Department of Consumer Affairs, including Joint Secretary and NCCF Managing Director Mr. Anupam Mishra, Senior Economic Advisor Mr. I.S. Negi, and Economic Advisor Dr. Kamkhenthang Guite, were present at the launch of this initiative. The program aims to provide affordable essential commodities to consumers across various locations in the country, particularly amid rising prices.
This step will help provide relief to consumers from the soaring prices of tomatoes, ensuring they can access this essential commodity at a reasonable price.
