The Centre said on Friday that prices of key vegetables, including tomato, onion and potato, have remained largely stable this year, with the exception of a temporary spike in tomato rates in Delhi due to heavy rains.
According to the Department of Consumer Affairs, most food commodity prices are either stable or showing a decline on a year-on-year basis, contributing to a 14% fall in the cost of a homemade thali in July 2025 compared to last year. Officials said the recent rise in tomato prices in the national capital was driven by weather-related disruptions rather than any fundamental demand-supply gap.
The National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) has been procuring tomatoes from Delhi’s Azadpur Mandi since August 4 and selling them to consumers at minimal margins. So far, NCCF has sold over 27,000 kg of tomatoes at retail prices between ₹47 and ₹60 per kg through stationary outlets and mobile vans across the city.
Tomato prices in Delhi had touched ₹85 per kg at the end of July but have now eased to an average of ₹73 per kg as daily arrivals at Azadpur Mandi stabilise. In contrast, Chennai and Mumbai, which have not faced adverse weather in recent weeks, are retailing tomatoes at ₹50 and ₹58 per kg, respectively. The all-India average price currently stands at ₹52 per kg—lower than ₹54 per kg last year and significantly below the ₹136 per kg peak in 2023.
The government noted that unlike in previous years, prices of potatoes, onions and tomatoes have remained under control this monsoon season. Higher production of onions and potatoes in 2024-25 has ensured ample supply, while 3 lakh tonnes of onions have been procured for the price stabilisation buffer. Targeted releases from this stock are set to begin in September 2025.