Tomato prices have fallen to Rs 50-70 per kilogramme with the arrival of fresh crops in retail markets, said the government on Monday. It will continue to sell tomatoes at a discounted rate till rates come down to a normal level, it added.
Tomato prices had surged to as high as Rs 250 per kg in the retail markets across the country due to unseasonal rains.
"Tomato prices are ruling in the range of Rs 50-70 per kg in retail markets across the country at present," Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh told PTI.
Prices have started cooling down with increase in arrival of the fresh crop in states like Madhya Pradesh, he added.
On sale of tomatoes at a subsidised rates, the secretary said the government will sell the commodity at the discounted prices in select states till the retail prices come to normalcy.
Since August 20, National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) have begun selling tomatoes at a discounted price of Rs 40 per kg in response to a drop in the cost of the kitchen essential in wholesale and retail markets.
Since last month, NCCF and NAFED have been selling tomatoes at a discounted rate on behalf of the Consumer Affairs Ministry to contain the price rise.
In order to provide benefits to customers, the subsidised pricing was first set at Rs 90 per kilogramme, which was subsequently decreased in accordance with the fall in prices.
To increase the supply domestically and lower the prices, tomatoes have also been imported from Nepal.
Source Name : Economic Times