Centre to Procure Tomatoes From Major Producing States To Combat Price Rise

New Delhi, July 12:  The Centre on Wednesday said tomato prices are expected to come down in the “near future”, deciding for immediate procurement of tomatoes from the producing states and distributing among the major consumption centres where retail prices of the juice vegetable have hit the roof.

It said that new crop arrivals are expected soon from Nashik district in Maharashtra. Besides, supply is expected to come from Narayangaon and Aurangabad belt in the State as well as from Madhya Pradesh. This will lead to gradual cooling down of prices.

But to mitigate the immediate crisis at hand, it has firmed up plans to procure from surplus states for distribution in other markets.

Consequently, the Department of Consumer Affairs has directed the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) to immediately procure the vegetable from Mandis in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra, said a government statement.

It said the distribution centres have been identified where prevailing prices are above the all-India average.

The move is expected to combat the rising price of the vegetable which is selling for as high as Rs 160 in some cities.

Southern and western regions of India are the major producers, contributing 56 per cent to 58 per cent of all India production.