The Indian government is expecting tomato prices to cool down in the upcoming days. Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh spoke about the recent hike in tomato and onion prices, the government's procurement plans for onions, and more.
According to Kumar Singh, tomato prices start declining in August every year during the start of the harvest after experiencing a seasonal price rise in June-July every year. He said June to August and October to November are lean production periods for tomatoes.
Singh added that Delhi NCR will not have to wait long for prices to cool down as fresh produce from Himachal Pradesh is expected to reach the region in a few days. The Consumer Affairs Secretary described the local vulnerability to weather as more acute because of climate change, which is why tomatoes across the country are produced in different seasons.
Singh termed early perishability as another reason for the seasonal tomato price hikes. To find a solution, the government launched the 'Tomato Grand Challenge 2023' with an aim to develop cost-effective technologies for pre-production, primary processing, post-harvest, storage, and valorization of tomatoes.
Source: cnbctv18.com
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