The seed industry believes that incentivising investments in advanced seed technologies and research that help enhance productivity and thus overall supply is crucial.
Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi launched sales of tomatoes at a subsidised rate of Rs 60 per kg in Delhi-NCR on July 29 as part of the government’s efforts to stabilise prices and provide relief to the common man.
The National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd (NCCF) vans have started providing tomatoes at a subsidised rate. The tomatoes are sold in Delhi along with Noida and Gurugram, according to the statement.
The Centre undertook the market intervention initiative to stabilise rising tomato prices in the retail market. The Department of Consumer Affairs has decided to launch this initiative to check the surge of tomato prices in major cities, especially Delhi.
Federation of Seed Industry of India has welcomed government’s initiative of selling subsidised tomatoes through NCCF vans. While commenting on the government’s initiative, Raghavan Sampathkumar, Executive Director, Federation of Seed Industry of India said, “We welcome the government’s initiative to sell subsidised tomatoes through NCCF vans, initially introduced in Delhi and now expanded to Mumbai, to help cool down rising costs and ensure affordability for consumers. While these short-term measures are vital in addressing acute price volatility, we would like to reiterate the need to focus on long-term, sustainable solutions.
The seed industry believes that incentivising investments in advanced seed technologies and research that help enhance productivity and thus overall supply is crucial.
For example, New Breeding Technologies (NBTs), including CRISPR gene editing can be leveraged for introducing crop traits like pest and disease resistance, improved productivity, and extended shelf life. These advancements will not only stabilize prices but also enhance farmers’ profitability.
We urge for continued support in developing superior seed varieties and implementing evidence-based policies that foster innovation and sustainability. This will pave the way for Indian agriculture to become prosperous and profitable, benefiting both farmers and consumers in the long run”.
