Tamil Nadu Govt Expands Tomato Sales to 300 Fair Price Shops

In a bid to stabilize the skyrocketing prices of vegetables, the Tamil Nadu government has announced the expansion of tomato sales to 300 fair price shops. Additionally, the government plans to introduce mobile vegetable outlets throughout the state. Chief Minister M K Stalin presided over a meeting with key ministers and officials to discuss strategies to alleviate the burden of rising vegetable costs.

The meeting, held at the Secretariat in the presence of Ministers K R Periyakaruppan (Cooperatives) and M R K Panneerselvam (Agriculture), Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena, and senior government officials, focused on implementing effective measures to address the ongoing issue.

Drawing inspiration from the successful deployment of mobile vegetable shops during the Covid-19 lockdown, the Chief Minister directed the officials to establish similar outlets wherever necessary, in collaboration with the city corporation and the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Development Agency.

Presently, tomatoes are being sold at a steep price of Rs 140 per kilogram in the retail market. Responding to this alarming situation, the state government had previously initiated the sale of tomatoes at a subsidized rate of Rs 60 per kilo in 82 fair price shops in Chennai on July 4.

Encouraged by the positive response to this initiative, the government has decided to extend the tomato sales to 300 ration shops across the state.

Acknowledging the gravity of the situation and the urgency to address it, the Chief Minister urged officials to continue the sale of vegetables through the existing 'Pannai Pasumai' (farm fresh) outlets throughout the state. He also emphasized the importance of monitoring the prices of Urad Dal and Thoor Dal, two popular lentils consumed widely by the public.

In an effort to ensure fair prices for consumers, M K Stalin instructed officials to ensure that vegetables are sold at rates lower than the prevailing retail market prices in farmers' shandies. Furthermore, he emphasized the need to take strict action against hoarders who contribute to the artificial inflation of prices.