Surge in tomato prices ‘temporary issue’, says Centre; TN offers special discount at state-run outlets

The government official said that tomato supply from Himachal Pradesh to Delhi will resume in the next 10 days, lowering the prices.

The consumer affairs secretary added that the data on tomato prices in the last five years shows that the cost increased every year around this time. According to the consumer affairs ministry’s price prediction based on artificial intelligence, the prices of tomato are likely to be lower in July, he added.

Rates of the staple vegetable have risen to Rs 80-120 per kg in Delhi, depending on the location and quality. According to the Price Monitoring Division data, tomatoes were sold at a retail price of Rs 60/kg in Lucknow, Rs 88/kg in Shimla, Rs 67/kg in Chennai, and Rs 77/kg in Kolkata on Tuesday.

The maximum price Rs 122/kg has been reported from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Bellary, Karnataka, the department data said. The average price of tomato on a pan-India basis was recorded at Rs 46 per kg.

Meanwhile, in a relief to the consumers, the Tamil Nadu government has introduced a sale on tomatoes in government-run Farm Fresh Outlets (FFOs). The tomato prices at FFOs is currently pegged at Rs 68 per kg. Steps would be taken to further lower the price and sell the tomatoes at Rs 60 per kg onwards, the DMK-led government said.

Chennai has 27 FFOs and two mobile units. Apart from this, FFOs also operate in Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, and Thanjavur, among various other places.

Meanwhile, the Congress has criticised the Centre over the hike in price of the essential kitchen item. “The prime minister had described Tomato, Onion and Potato as ‘TOP’ priority. But because of his wrong policies… first tomatoes get thrown on the road then sold for Rs 100 per kg!” party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter.

(With inputs from PTI)

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