“Finance Minister Sitharaman Addresses Inflation Concerns, Unveils Measures to Stabilize Tomato Prices and Mitigate Rising Costs”
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlines government measures to tackle inflation, including importing essential food items and distributing tomatoes from Maharashtra and Karnataka to bring down prices in Delhi-NCR and other regions.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman commended India’s economic resilience amid global struggles, expressing optimism about the nation’s growth trajectory while addressing the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha. Sitharaman extensively discussed strategies to curb inflation and alleviate the rising cost of essential commodities, specifically highlighting efforts to stabilize tomato prices.
Amid concerns over inflation impacting everyday citizens, Sitharaman underscored that a series of measures have been undertaken to contain rising prices. A Group of Ministers has been diligently working to address price spikes that affect the common populace.
Sitharaman revealed that the government is proactively importing pulses and other edible items to ensure stable supply and reasonable prices. Tur dal is being sourced from Mozambique, while Urad dal is planned to be imported from Myanmar. Additionally, the government has acquired approximately three lakh tonnes of onions to establish a buffer stock.
To provide immediate relief to consumers, Sitharaman assured that steps have been taken to lower the cost of tomatoes in Delhi-NCR. The government is sourcing tomatoes from Maharashtra and Karnataka and distributing them in key regions, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Rajasthan. This distribution is facilitated through organizations like NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation).
Sitharaman elaborated that the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) has already distributed a significant quantity of tomatoes – around 8,84,000 kilograms – in the aforementioned states. Furthermore, NCCF is organizing a mega sale of tomatoes at a subsidized rate of ₹70 per kilogram in the Delhi-NCR region during the upcoming weekend. In an innovative move, tomatoes imported from Nepal will also be made available in cities like Lucknow, Varanasi, and Kanpur, further alleviating tomato price concerns.
The Finance Minister’s comments come in the wake of a recent report by Crisil, a prominent rating agency, which highlighted the substantial impact of tomato price hikes on overall food costs. The report indicated that the cost of a vegetarian thali had risen by 34 percent on a month-on-month basis, largely attributed to a significant 233 percent surge in tomato prices from ₹33 per kilogram in June to ₹110 per kilogram in July.
Sitharaman’s detailed explanation of the government’s efforts to mitigate inflation and stabilize essential food prices highlights a commitment to ease the burden on citizens and maintain economic stability. As India navigates global economic challenges, these measures hold the potential to provide much-needed relief to households grappling with rising living costs.
Sources By Agencies
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