NCCF and NAFED Set to Offer Tomatoes at Rs. 50 per kg Starting August 15

In response to a notable decline in tomato prices within the wholesale markets, the Department of Consumer Affairs has issued a directive to the National Cooperative Consumer Federation (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) to make available tomatoes to consumers at the retail cost of Rs. 50 per kilogram, effective from August 15, 2023.

Steering Price Relief

Following the initiation of tomato retail sales in the Delhi-NCR region from July 14, 2023, both NCCF and NAFED have collectively procured a staggering 15 lakh kilograms of tomatoes up to August 13, 2023. These supplies have been consistently distributed to retail consumers across key consumption hubs nationwide, including Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan (Jaipur, Kota), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj), and Bihar (Patna, Muzaffarpur, Arrah, Buxar).

Originally introduced at Rs. 90 per kg, the retail price of tomatoes sourced through NCCF and NAFED underwent reductions to Rs. 80 per kg from July 16, 2023, and further to Rs. 70 per kg from July 20, 2023. The latest substantial reduction to Rs. 50 per kg aims to offer even greater benefits to consumers.

Amplified Accessibility

With an objective to ensure wider availability, NCCF has significantly augmented the tomato supply by strategically deploying mobile vans across 70 locations throughout Delhi, as well as 15 locations in Noida and Greater Noida. In addition, NCCF has embraced retail sales via the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform, demonstrating its commitment to accessible distribution.

Recalling recent developments, the joint efforts of NCCF and NAFED were triggered by the Consumer Affairs Department’s guidance to procure tomatoes from markets in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The acquired produce is subsequently channeled for prompt dissemination in major consumption zones that have witnessed substantial retail price increases over the past month.