The National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) announced that it has sold 560 tonnes of tomatoes at subsidized rates in Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh over the past 15 days. Due to high retail prices caused by heavy rains in key producing states, the discount sale will continue.
The tomato sale initially started at Rs 90 per kg on July 14 and later reduced to Rs 70 per kg. Since the last week, tomatoes have been sold at Rs 70 per kg in all three states. The NCCF is selling tomatoes on behalf of the central government to provide relief to consumers from the high prices.
Tomatoes are being sold through mobile vans, select retail outlets of Kendriya Bhandar, and the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) in Delhi and the National Capital Region. In other states, sales are conducted through mobile vans and in collaboration with state governments.
The ONDC platform was recently launched in Delhi-NCR and has received a positive response, with 2,000 packets sold. NCCF plans to expand online sales to offer consumers a hassle-free buying experience with free delivery. The platform sells tomatoes at Rs 70 per kg, with a quantity limit of 2 kg per consumer.
NCCF is currently sourcing tomatoes from major producing states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. According to data from the consumer affairs ministry, the all-India average retail price of tomatoes was Rs 123.49 per kg until July 29, with a maximum rate of Rs 193 per kg and a minimum of Rs 29 per kg. In specific cities, tomato prices were Rs 167 per kg in Delhi, Rs 155 per kg in Mumbai, and Rs 133 per kg in Chennai on July 29.
(With PTI inputs)
