The National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) are two cooperatives that have been instrumental in curbing tomato prices in India.
In response to declining wholesale prices, the Centre directed NCCF and NAFED to sell tomatoes at a reduced rate of Rs 50 per kilogram. This move aimed to boost domestic availability and contain price rises.
NCCF and NAFED have been selling tomatoes at discounted rates since July, 2023 in Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar. They have procured tomatoes from mandis in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra for distribution in major consumption centers.
NCCF is a national consumer cooperative society that works to promote the consumer cooperative movement in India. NAFED is an apex organization of marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce in India.
Both NCCF and NAFED are registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act and function under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. Their objectives include providing essential commodities to consumers at fair prices and supporting agricultural producers.
NAFED also plays a crucial role in price stabilization of essential commodities like onions and pulses by creating a national buffer stock.
The Government has recently decided to sell subsidised ‘Bharat Rice’ at ₹29 per kg in the retail market through two cooperatives, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd (NCCF) as well as the state-backed retail chain KendriyaBhandar. The Government is already selling the subsidised Bharat Atta at ₹27.50 per kg and Bharat Dal at ₹60 per kg. through physical retail outlets and mobile vans of NAFED, NCCF and KendriyaBhandar.
The NCCF and NAFED are examples of how cooperatives can play a vital role in curbing food price inflation. By procuring produce directly from farmers and selling it at fair prices to consumers, cooperatives can help to ensure that everyone has access to affordable food.
