The central government’s initiative to address the tomato shortage and price hike in Delhi by procuring tomatoes from market committees in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh has raised concerns about a potential shortage within Maharashtra itself.
To tackle the issue, the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs has instructed the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) to immediately procure tomatoes from market committees in the mentioned states. The purchased tomatoes will be sold at discounted rates through sales centers in Delhi and its surrounding areas, with the sale set to begin on Friday, June 14.
Tomato production is distributed across various states in India, with Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh accounting for over 55 percent of the total production. The harvesting period for tomatoes varies by state, with December to February being the primary season. During the monsoon season, specifically July-August and October-November, tomato production tends to be low due to harvesting and transportation challenges.
The procurement efforts will primarily focus on Satara, Narayangaon, and Nashik in Maharashtra, as these regions supply tomatoes to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and other states. Additionally, purchases will be made from Madanapalli (Chittoor) in Andhra Pradesh and Kolar in Karnataka. The arrival of new tomato crops from the Nashik district is expected soon. The central government anticipates that rates will decrease in the coming weeks, especially with additional supplies expected from the Narayangaon and Aurangabad belts in August.
However, concerns have been raised about the potential disruption in the supply chain if massive procurement begins immediately. Vilas Bhujbal, former President of the Adte Association at Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard in Pune, warns that such disruptions could further worsen the shortage and lead to increased tomato prices within Maharashtra.
