To address sharp volatility in retail prices of tomatoes, the government has selected and funded 28 innovative ideas, including making wine from tomato, under a hackathon for improving supply chain as well as processing levels, and it will now facilitate these startups to scale up their business. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare on Friday said Tomato Grand Challenge (TGC) hackathon was launched in June last year to invite innovative ideas at various levels of the tomato value chain to ensure its availability to consumers at affordable prices and help tomato farmers get value for the produce. The TGC was formulated by the Department of Consumer Affairs in collaboration with Ministry of Education (Innovation Cell). "There is a high volatility in tomato prices. Rates increase sharply because of excessive rains, heat spells and pest attacks," Khare said, adding that there are at least 2-3 occasions in a year of sudden price hike as much as 100 per cent. She pointed out that rate