New Delhi, Nov 23: Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today said there has been no decline in tomato output and the shooting up of the prices to over Rs 60 a kg is due to disruption in supplies from rain-hit South India.
“There is no fall in production of tomato in the country. Prices have increased due to transportation problems and rains in the South India,” Paswan told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.
The price increase in tomato is a seasonal issue and the price situation will normalise as supplies improve, he added.
Tomato prices have risen sharply in the last few days to over Rs 60 per kg in most retail markets. In rain-affected Chennai, they had touched as high as Rs 80 per kg last week.
On pulses prices which are still ruling above Rs 180 per kg, Paswan said the rise is purely due to widening gap in demand and supply of lentils.
The government has taken all measures to rein in prices including imposing stock holding limits and action against hoarders, imports among others, he added.
Paswan said that the production is around 17.5 million tonnes against the demand of 25 million tonnes. The balance is met through imports.
