India has started importing tomatoes from Nepal to lower prices, according to federal Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday.
The country has seen a record increase in tomato prices. The first shipment from Nepal is expected to arrive soon, and a mega sale of subsidised tomatoes will take place in Delhi, Sitharaman said.
The government is also procuring tomatoes from various regions and distributing them through cooperative societies and mobile vans in several states, the minister said.
Previously, tomatoes were sold at 24 cents per kg, but prices have skyrocketed to three U.S. dollars per kg.