Mokokchung, 16 July (MTNews): To provide relief to the consumers amid high prices of tomatoes, Centre has further decided to reduce the selling price of kitchen staple from concessional rate of 90 rupees to 80 rupees per kilogram.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in a statement said that after a re-assessment of the situation from across 500 plus points in the country, it has been decided to sell tomatoes at 80 rupees per kilogram from today.
The Ministry added that sales of tomatoes have started today at several points each in Delhi, Noida, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Patna, Muzaffarpur and Arrah through NAFED and NCCF. It will be expanded to more cities from tomorrow depending upon prevailing market prices at such locations.
It said the wholesale price of tomatoes has decreased after the Government’s intervention and the Government of India is committed to provide relief to consumers.
As per the data compiled by the Department of Consumer Affairs, the average all-India retail price of tomatoes was ruling at Rs 116.86 per kg on Saturday, while the maximum rate was Rs 250 per kg and the minimum was Rs 25 per kg. Modal price of tomatoes is Rs 100 per kg.
Among metros, tomatoes were ruling at Rs 178 per kg in Delhi, followed by Rs 150 per kg in Mumbai, and Rs 132 per kg in Chennai. The maximum price of Rs 250 per kg was in Hapur.
According to the data, the rate in Mokokchung on Saturday was Rs 80 per kg. Tomato prices normally shoot up during July-August and October-November periods, which are generally lean production months. Supply disruption caused due to the monsoon has led to a sharp rise in the rates.