PTI Photo New Delhi. The government has started selling tomatoes at a subsidized rate. Cooperative societies NCCF and Nafed on Friday started selling tomatoes at a subsidized rate of Rs 90 per kg in Delhi and its neighboring areas and Patna to provide relief to consumers from high tomato prices. The National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) are selling tomatoes on behalf of the Centre. Over the past few weeks, there has been a sharp increase in the retail price of tomato and due to unseasonal and heavy rains, the retail price of tomato touched Rs 244 per kg on Friday in many parts of the country. #WATCH | Delhi: National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) sells tomatoes at a subsidized rate of Rs 90 per kg, giving relief to consumers. pic.twitter.com/GyOpSuMmBc — ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2023 NCCF Managing Director Anees Joseph Chandra told PTI, “About 80 per cent of the 17,000 kg tomatoes were sold till evening. We will increase its reach and volume in the National Capital Territory of Delhi from tomorrow.” The response has been good and at some places queues have formed to buy the discounted tomatoes, he said. Around 20 mobile vans were sent to areas like Karol Bagh, Patel Nagar, Pusa Road, CGO Complex, Nehru Place, Adarsh Nagar, JJ slum in Wazirpur and Dhodhapur Shiv Mandir. He said that three mobile vehicles were sent to Noida Sector-78 in Noida and Pari Chowk near Greater Noida. Chandra said, “We are selling ‘A’ grade export quality tomatoes. The quantity will be increased to more than 20,000 kg from tomorrow.” From Sunday, the NCCF will start selling tomatoes through around 100 Kendra Bhandar outlets in the national capital, he said. Till the prices stabilise, the discounted sale of tomatoes will continue.” Chandra said the NCCF is also in talks with Mother Dairy for sale of tomatoes at subsidized rates through over 400 successful retail outlets in Delhi and surrounding areas. On the other hand, Nafed has also started selling tomatoes at a subsidized rate of Rs 90 per kg in Patna, Bihar. Nafed President Bijendra Singh said, “A truck carrying 20 tonnes of tomatoes reached Patna today. We are selling it there at the rate fixed by the government at Rs 90 per kg.” Also read He said that the cooperative society has bought tomatoes from Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh at Rs 115 per kg. He said, “The total cost of tomatoes is Rs 121 per kg, including the transportation cost of tomatoes till Patna.” The central government will bear all this loss. According to government data, the average all-India retail price of tomato on Friday was Rs 116.76 per kg, while the maximum rate was Rs 244 per kg and the minimum rate was Rs 40 per kg. Among metros, tomato was priced at Rs 178 per kg in Delhi on Thursday, followed by Rs 147 per kg in Mumbai, Rs 145 per kg in Kolkata and Rs 132 per kg in Chennai. Tomato prices generally increase during the July-August and October-November periods. These are generally low production months. The supply disruption due to monsoon has led to a sharp increase in the prices of this vegetable. (agency)