Stabilizing prices of tomatoes: Minister flags off NCCF vans for NCR

Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi launched the sale of tomatoes at Rs 60 per kg on Monday. The National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF) vans will be providing the tomatoes at subsidised rate. The tomatoes will be sold in Delhi along with Noida and Gurgaon. The Centre undertook the market intervention initiative to stabilise rising tomato price in the retail market.

During the flagging off ceremony, Shri Joshi announced a new initiative by the Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, aimed at controlling the rising price of tomatoes in major cities, particularly Delhi. He stated that, starting today, subsidized tomatoes will be sold at Rs 60 per kilogram.

The Union Minister highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Centre has established a Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) to stabilize food prices and protect consumer interests. He explained, “Whenever essential commodity prices rise, we use the PSF to procure these commodities. These essentials are directly sourced from farmers, reducing intermediary costs and ensuring availability to consumers.”

However, in this case, the PSF was not utilized as tomatoes were directly procured from wholesale markets (mandis). He emphasized that this initiative would help ease tomato prices, stabilize the market, and provide consumers with tomatoes at a subsidized rate.

The National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) has undertaken market intervention measures to stabilize the rising tomato prices in the retail market. NCCF is procuring tomatoes from wholesale mandis and selling them at reasonable retail prices.

This action aims to keep retail profit margins reasonable, preventing intermediaries from making windfall gains and thus protecting consumer interests.

This intervention by NCCF seeks to mitigate the price rise and maintain stability in the market, benefiting consumers and promoting fair trade practices. It demonstrates NCCF’s commitment to safeguarding consumer interests and fostering a stable market ecosystem.

Initially, tomato sales began on July 29, 2024, at Rs 60 per kilogram at various locations, including Rajiv Chowk Metro, Patel Chowk Metro, Nehru Place, Krishi Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Colony, Hauz Khas Head Office, Parliament Street, INA Market, Mandi House, Kailash Colony, I.T.O, South Extension, Moti Nagar, Dwarka, Noida (Sector 14 and 76), Rohini, and Gurugram.

The number of retail locations may be increased in the coming days to enhance consumer convenience.