Govt taps farmers as tomato prices soar

livemint.com:

₹180 per kg, even touching ₹280 a kg for some varieties, up from ₹20–30 a kg on 24 June. In many other cities and states, including Tamil Nadu and Kerala, tomatoes now cost over ₹180 a kg. Due to floods and damage to crops in the plains of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, the regular supply of tomatoes to Delhi may remain disrupted for some time.

In the meantime, the supply of tomatoes at a discounted rate is expected to moderate prices and provide relief to common people. “Nafed officials have already started their work, and they will see where Nafed can get tomatoes from and explore the points from where it can distribute the procured tomatoes from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra," Singh said, expressing confidence about the federations’ ability to follow the government assignment. Since the directive came only on Wednesday, it is too early to comment on the procurement target, procurement area, or distribution area, Singh added.

Separately, an NCCF truck carrying 25,000 kg of tomatoes arrived in Delhi on Thursday night from Andhra Pradesh, and the quantity was procured at the market prevailing rate. In Andhra Pradesh, good-quality tomatoes are being sold at ₹120–130 a kg. The quantity NCCF brought to Delhi is being sold at a discounted rate of ₹90 a kg in Delhi NCR at all major locations with high-density populations, two government officials said on condition of anonymity.