India, which is counted among the top-two tomato producers in the world, will begin importing tomatoes from the neighboring nation of Nepal, the country's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told lawmakers in Parliament on Thursday.
The minister's remarks come at a time when prices of tomatoes have touched record highs in retail markets. In some cities, the cost of the vegetable has touched INR 250 ($3) per kilogram.
The minister stressed that the government decided to import tomatoes to give relief to households, particularly the lower-income ones, considering tomatoes have become unaffordable for them.
The minister's remarks come at a time when prices of tomatoes have touched record highs in retail markets. In some cities, the cost of the vegetable has touched INR 250 ($3) per kilogram.
The minister stressed that the government decided to import tomatoes to give relief to households, particularly the lower-income ones, considering tomatoes have become unaffordable for them.
1400 Percent Rise in Tomato Prices
"Tomato prices in the wholesale market have risen by more than 1,400% to a record 140 rupees ($1.69) per kilogram in the last three months, with farmers citing reasons such as insufficient rainfall and higher temperatures," she said.
The minister noted that imported tomatoes from Nepal will arrive in the state of Uttar Pradesh on Friday with Varanasi, Kanpur, and Lucknow receiving the first consignments.
According to her, the National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India has been given the task of selling tomatoes at discounted rates in the national capital.
"The National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India is planning a major tomato sale in Delhi at a subsidized price of Rs 70 per kg this weekend, it will cover all corners of Delhi," Sitharaman concluded.