Amidst a sharp rise in tomato prices nationwide, Pratibha Shukla, the Minister of State for Women Development and Child Nutrition in Uttar Pradesh, has offered a unique solution to the public.
In a recent statement, she advised people to grow tomatoes at home or consider abstaining from consuming them until the prices stabilize.
Participating in a tree plantation drive organized by the Uttar Pradesh Government’s ambitious tree plantation program, Ms. Shukla emphasized the importance of finding alternatives during times of inflation.
She said, “If tomatoes are expensive, people should grow them at home. If you stop eating tomatoes, the prices will inevitably come down. You can also eat lemon instead of tomato. If nobody is eating tomatoes, the prices will come down”.
Illustrating the viability of her advice, the Minister cited the example of the nutrition garden in Asahi village, where villagers have successfully cultivated tomatoes and other essential crops.
“We have made a nutrition garden in Asahi village, the women in the village have made a nutrition garden, and tomatoes can also be planted in it. There is a solution to this inflation, this is not new, tomatoes are expensive all the time,” she said.
Furthermore, Shukla encouraged citizens to consider lemon as an alternative to tomatoes, emphasizing that adjusting consumption habits could help alleviate inflationary pressures.
“There is a solution to this inflation; this is not new, tomatoes are expensive all the time. If you do not eat tomatoes, then use lemon. Whatever is more expensive, discard it, and it will automatically become cheaper,” she asserted.
Meanwhile, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, stated that the Department of Consumer Affairs closely monitors the daily prices of essential food commodities, including tomatoes. The government’s efforts aim to keep a close check on the price fluctuations to ensure fair pricing for consumers.
