In a bid to bring relief to consumers amidst soaring vegetable prices, the central government has begun selling tomatoes at a subsidised rate of ₹65 per kg in Delhi. The move, initiated on Monday, aims to counter the rising retail price of tomatoes, which have recently surged to an average of ₹90 per kg in local markets.
The National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd (NCCF) is spearheading the effort, deploying mobile vans across 50 colonies in the national capital to make tomatoes more affordable. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare flagged off the initiative, stating, “We are trying to moderate the prices of tomatoes. With this market intervention, in the next 3-4 days prices of tomatoes will come down.”
The intervention comes as part of a broader government effort to protect consumers from price hikes driven by adverse weather conditions, particularly in major tomato-producing states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The prolonged monsoon has affected the quality of tomatoes, leading to price surges, according to the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Moreover, market intermediaries are being scrutinized for potential profiteering during this high-demand festive season. In addition to tomatoes, the NCCF is also distributing onions from the government buffer at ₹35 per kg in major cities, along with efforts to import pulses and chickpeas from Myanmar and Australia to further stabilize prices.
As per government data, the current average prices for essential vegetables across India stand at ₹36.89 per kg for potatoes, ₹54.36 per kg for onions, and ₹64.72 per kg for tomatoes.
This initiative is expected to bring much-needed relief to households grappling with the rising cost of essential food items.
