Shrutika Patil, Pune
In a bid to alleviate the burden on consumers facing escalating prices of tomatoes, the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF) has announced a strategic move to import around 10 tons of tomatoes from Nepal.
The NCCF revealed that approximately 5 tons of these imported tomatoes are currently in transit and are set to be retailed at a subsidized rate of Rs 50 per kilogram in Uttar Pradesh starting Thursday.
Managing Director of NCCF, Anice Joseph Chandra, elaborated on the effort, indicating that out of the total imported consignment, 3 to 4 tonnes have already been distributed in Uttar Pradesh.
She added that the remaining 5 tonnes, which are en route, will be made available at the subsidized rate in the state. However, the imported tomatoes are restricted to Uttar Pradesh due to their short shelf life, rendering them unsuitable for sale in other regions of India.
The NCCF’s intervention comes as a result of directives from the Union consumer affairs ministry, underlining the urgency of the situation.
In Uttar Pradesh, both domestically procured tomatoes and the imported ones are being retailed through stationary outlets as well as mobile vans stationed at select locations.
Meanwhile, in Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan, the NCCF is retailing tomatoes sourced from various Indian states, also at the subsidized rate of Rs 50 per kg.
Joseph Chandra further explained that the import strategy will be paced carefully, coinciding with the arrival of domestic tomato crops in various states.
As Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh begin to witness the influx of fresh tomato produce in wholesale markets, the prices are expected to stabilize.
Recent government data reflects a decline in tomato prices. The average wholesale price fell to Rs 88.22 per kg on August 15 from Rs 97.56 per kg a month ago, while the average retail price decreased to Rs 107.87 per kg from Rs 118.7 per kg over the same period.
Tomato prices had surged due to heavy rainfall affecting key procuring regions, but NCCF’s proactive initiative is poised to bring relief to consumers by ensuring a steady supply of tomatoes at affordable prices.