Question : Prices of Farm Produce

(a) whether it is true that in the last eight months monthly average, the price of farming varieties specially vegetables have risen to over 150 per cent in comparison to the price in March 2019;

(b) whether it is also a fact that during the last 6 years period, the agricultural products prices have soared over 300 per cent in comparison to year-to-year and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether the Government has decided to stop export of vegetables and farming varieties to check the price hike thereof and if so, the action taken so far and the reaction in the market thereto?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)
(a): The prices of agricultural produce are determined by supply and demand conditions in the market on a day-to-day basis. Apart from demand and supply conditions, quality of produce, weather condition, seasonality, availability of stocks and international prices are also affecting the prices of agricultural produce. Price of agricultural produce tends to fall after harvesting season due to increase in market arrival of new crops.

The percentage rise in wholesale prices of vegetables in the last eight months in comparison to the wholesale prices of March, 2019 for vegetables are given below:


Contd….2/-





- 2 –

Vegetables Apr,
19 May,
19 Jun,
19 Jul,
19 Aug,
19 Sep,
19 Oct,
19 Nov,
19 Dec,
19
Potato 1.45 2.32 2.80 3.72 3.39 3.12 5.43 5.42 10.25
Onion 1.80 4.28 6.27 6.79 13.91 25.37 23.53 47.30 63.17
Tomato 2.17 9.34 3.49 8.18 3.26 2.30 6.41 1.99 -1.10
Beans 0.23 1.22 1.75 0.94 1.40 -0.70 0.89 0.40 1.33
Bitter Gourd -1.22 -2.21 -2.16 -2.92 -3.62 -3.74 -3.44 -2.30 -2.83
Bottle Gourd 0.04 -2.09 -1.15 -1.53 0.79 2.33 3.97 2.60 -0.11
Brinjal 0.97 -0.49 -0.13 -0.40 1.31 0.43 1.38 -0.47 -0.27
Cabbage 0.49 1.38 1.21 4.10 3.75 3.51 4.32 4.36 1.80
Carrot 4.82 4.63 10.03 9.32 12.23 8.53 17.20 18.05 11.39
Cauliflower 0.17 1.81 5.08 5.58 5.70 2.91 1.13 0.81 0.64
Cucumber -0.85 -1.82 0.80 2.05 2.27 3.18 0.45 2.84 1.25
Drumstick 0.23 1.36 8.80 12.12 9.63 8.25 14.19 43.37 76.41
Ladyfinger -0.24 -3.81 -3.65 -3.42 -4.72 -4.11 -2.13 2.35 3.70
Lemon 0.86 1.95 1.34 0.55 4.12 6.54 -0.12 -3.78 -6.40
Pointed Gourd -2.16 -4.55 -5.98 -5.95 -4.79 -4.57 -3.27 -3.40 -3.17
Pumpkin 0.51 -0.34 0.59 -0.94 -2.71 -2.12 -0.68 1.02 2.20
Tapioca 0.78 1.31 1.12 1.22 1.33 1.61 1.11 1.50 1.54

(b): The percent rate of inflation based on Wholesale Price Index (WPI) during last six years period (year-on-year) for the agricultural products are given below:

Commodity 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2019 over 2013
PRIMARY ARTICLES 3.73 -1.04 3.23 1.80 2.07 6.25 16.98
FOOD ARTICLES 6.13 3.00 4.49 2.22 -0.35 7.45 25.03
FOOD GRAINS (CEREALS+PULSES) 4.16 5.01 11.62 -3.20 -1.03 9.51 28.07
CEREALS 4.59 -0.08 7.70 2.64 2.92 8.42 28.92
PULSES 1.81 30.28 26.11 -21.94 -17.79 15.41 23.88
VEGETABLES -4.42 -5.33 -4.07 12.51 -7.22 26.16 14.31
FRUITS 15.63 3.36 4.46 3.84 1.74 1.90 34.39
CONDIMENTS & SPICES 18.39 15.79 5.56 -11.17 3.00 5.83 40.13
OIL SEEDS 3.19 4.72 1.11 -6.43 8.05 8.00 19.30

(c): In view of the prevailing adverse domestic onion availability and price rise situation in India, export of all varieties of onions has been prohibited by the Government. However, Government allowed export of Bangalore Rose Onion upto 9,000 MT through Chennai Port till 30.11.2019.
******