Central agencies to procure tomatoes from 3 states, sell at discounted rates

The central government has directed the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (Nafed) and the National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) to procure tomatoes from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra and distribute them in major consumption centres.

The move is aimed at cooling the price of the vegetable that has soared in the past one month.

Tomatoes will be distributed in areas where the retail prices have gone past the all-India average.


Distribution will be done through retail outlets at discounted prices in Delhi-NCR region by July 14, the Department of Consumer Affairs said in a statement. The prices will stabilise next month when the new crop comes from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, it said.

The price of tomatoes on average has increased 326% in the last one month, according to government data. The situation has been worsened due to incessant rains in the hilly states such as Himachal Pradesh which is the primary supplier of tomatoes and other vegetables to the national capital and nearby areas.

Tomato is produced in almost all the states in India, though in varying quantities.