The state government of Andhra Pradesh has intervened to address the escalating prices of tomatoes in Visakhapatnam. To provide relief to consumers, tomatoes will now be sold at selected Rythu Bazaars in MVP Colony, Sitammadhara, and Gopalapatnam for just Rs 50 per kilogram. However, individuals will be required to present their Aadhaar or ration card and will be limited to purchasing a maximum of 1 kilogram of tomatoes. This move comes as the open market price of tomatoes reached an alarming Rs 100 per kilogram in recent days.
In an effort to stabilize prices, the government has taken steps to procure tomatoes from wholesale markets. By selling them at a subsidized rate of Rs 50 per kilogram in Visakhapatnam, the authorities aim to provide affordable access to this essential commodity. The initiative is particularly crucial as areas without Rythu Bazaars experienced even higher tomato prices, ranging from Rs 110 to Rs 120 per kilogram.
The MVP Colony Rythu Bazaar, which is the largest in Andhra Pradesh, faced a shortage of tomatoes recently, with only 40 quintals available on June 27. To meet the demand, the Agricultural Marketing Department supplied an additional 12 quintals. With the reduced price now in effect, authorities anticipate even longer queues at the bazaars as consumers eagerly take advantage of the affordable tomatoes.