The Central government has asked its agencies – NAFED and NCCF – to urgently buy the basic crop from mandis in important growing regions of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, amid a dramatic increase in tomato prices across the country.
Tomato price increases are being observed across the country, not just in one region or geography. It reached Rs 150-160 per kg in many cities. Once obtained, these will be shipped for simultaneous distribution in major consuming areas where retail prices have increased the most in the previous month.
Tomato production is normally low during the months of July-August and October-November.
According to a food ministry release issued Wednesday, tomato inventories would be supplied to consumers in the Delhi NCR region through retail outlets at “discounted prices” by Friday of this week.
“The targeted centres for release (of tomato) have been identified on the basis of absolute increase in retail prices over the past one month in centres where prevailing prices are above the All-India average.”
Tomatoes are grown in practically every state in India, though in varied quantities. The southern and western parts of India produce the most, accounting for 56-58 percent of overall output.
“Southern and Western regions being surplus states, feed to other markets depending on production seasons. The production seasons are also different across regions. The peak harvesting season occurs from December to February.”