Department of Consumer Affairs ordered NCCF and NAFED to sell tomatoes at retail price of Rs.40/- per kg from 20th August 2023 due to the continuous decline in tomato prices in the wholesale and retail markets.
The tomato retailing in Delhi-NCR had started since 14thth July 2023. To date, the two agencies have purchased over 15 lakh kg of tomatoes which are continuously being disposed of to retail consumers in major consumption hubs across the country. These locations include Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan (Jaipur, Kota), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj) and Bihar (Patna, Muzaffarpur, Arrah, Buxar).
The retail price of tomatoes procured from NCCF and NAFED was initially set at Rs.90/- per kg which was later reduced in line with the price decline in order to ensure benefits for consumers. The last downward revision of the retail price to Rs.50/- per kg was on 15.08.2023 which is now further reduced to Rs.40/- per kg wef 20.08.2023.
It can be recalled that on the recommendation of the Department of Consumer Affairs, NCCF and NAFED had started the procurement of tomato from mandis in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra for simultaneous disposal in the main consumption centers where retail prices recorded the maximum increase in the last month .
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AD/NS