**Policy Summary: Government Intervention Stabilizes Essential Food Commodity Prices**
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution reports that food commodity prices have remained largely stable throughout 2025, with many commodities exhibiting stable or declining trends year-on-year. This is reflected in a 14% decrease in the cost of a homemade thali in July 2025.
While localized factors, specifically heavy rainfall in northern and northwestern India, caused a temporary tomato price spike in Delhi (reaching ₹85/kg at the end of July and currently averaging ₹73/kg), the all-India average retail price of tomato remains lower than previous years at ₹52/kg (compared to ₹54/kg last year and ₹136/kg in 2023). This localized disruption has not been observed in cities like Chennai and Mumbai, where average tomato retail prices are ₹50/kg and ₹58/kg, respectively.
To mitigate the Delhi price surge, the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India (NCCF) has been procuring tomatoes from Azadpur Mandi since August 4, 2025, and selling them to consumers at minimal margins. NCCF has sold 27,307 kg of tomatoes at retail prices ranging from ₹47 to ₹60 per kg through stationary outlets at Nehru Place, Udyog Bhawan, Patel Chowk, and Rajiv Chowk, and via 67 mobile vans across Delhi.
Furthermore, the government reports that prices of major vegetables like potato and onion are under control this monsoon season due to higher production in 2024-25. The government has procured 3 lakh tonnes of onion for price stabilization, with calibrated release from the buffer stock expected to begin in September 2025.
**Contact:** Abhishek Dayal/Nidhi Sharma, Press Information Bureau, Delhi. Release ID: 2154078. Posted August 8, 2025, 2:36 PM.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The Indian government ministry responsible for maintaining stable prices of essential food commodities.
Delhi: The city in India where tomato prices spiked temporarily due to rains.
National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India (NCCF): An Indian cooperative involved in procuring and selling tomatoes at subsidized prices.
Azadpur Mandi: A major agricultural market in Delhi from where NCCF is procuring tomatoes.
Nehru Place: A location in Delhi where NCCF has a stationary outlet for retail sales.
Mumbai: A major city in Maharashtra, India where tomato prices are lower compared to Delhi.
Chennai: A major city in Tamil Nadu, India where tomato prices are lower compared to Delhi.
September, 2025: The month from which calibrated release of onions from the government buffer stock is expected to start.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Centre Actively Monitors and Intervenes to Ensure
Stable Prices of Tomato, Onion, and Potato
Tomato price spike temporarily in Delhi due to rains,
but all-India average remains below
Higher production of onion and potato, along with
government buffer stock, ensures continued price
stability
Posted On: 08 AUG 2025 2:36PM by PIB Delhi
Food commodity prices have largely remained stable and well-contained throughout the current calendar year.
As of today, the prices of most commodities monitored by the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of
Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, are exhibiting either a stable or
declining trend on a year-on-year basis. The reported 14% decrease in the cost of a homemade thali in July
2025 further reflects the continued moderation of food inflation during the month.
The retail prices of tomatoes prevailing at various centres across the country are influenced by temporary
localised factors rather than any fundamental demand-supply imbalance or production shortfall.
In this context, the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) has been procuring
th
tomatoes from Azadpur Mandi since 4 August 2025 and selling them to consumers at prices with minimal
margins. A similar initiative was undertaken by NCCF in previous years as well.
To date, NCCF has sold 27,307 kilograms of tomatoes at retail prices ranging from ₹47 to ₹60 per kg,
depending on the procurement cost. Retail sales are being conducted through NCCF’s stationary outlets at
Nehru Place, Udyog Bhawan, Patel Chowk, and Rajiv Chowk, as well as through 6–7 mobile vans operating
at various locations across the city
The current average retail price of tomato in Delhi, at ₹73 per kg, is primarily the result of heavy rainfall in
the northern and north-western regions of the country since the last week of July. This weather-related
disruption caused prices to spike to as high as ₹85 per kg by the end of July. However, with the recovery and
stabilisation of daily arrivals at the Azadpur mandi over the past week, both mandi and retail prices have
begun to decline.
In contrast, major cities such as Chennai and Mumbai, which have not experienced abnormal weather
conditions in recent weeks, have not witnessed a similar price surge. The current average retail prices of
tomato in Chennai and Mumbai are ₹50 per kg and ₹58 per kg, respectively—substantially lower than the
prevailing price in Delhi. At present, all-India average retail prices of tomato is Rs.52 per kg which is still
lower than Rs.54 per kg last year and Rs.136 per kg in 2023.
Pertinently, unlike previous years, prices of major vegetables like potato, onion and tomato are under control
this monsoon season.In respect of potato and onion, higher production in 2024-25 over the previous year ensures sufficient supply
and a substantially lower retail price over last year. This year, government has procured 3 lakh tonnes of
onion for price stabilisation buffer. Calibrated and targeted release of onions from the buffer is expected to
start from September, 2025.
*****
Abhishek Dayal/Nihi Sharma
(Release ID: 2154078)