Question : Prices of Fruits and Vegetables

(a) whether the prices of fruits and vegetables being sold in wholesale markets of various cities increase manifold by the time these fruits and vegetables reach the retail markets;

(b) if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Government to resolve the said issue;

(c) whether the Government is considering to fix a maximum limit to the reckless price margin on fruits and vegetables and their maximum selling price margin; and

(d) if so, the time by which the same is likely to be implemented in the entire country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): The prices of fruits and vegetables may increase from wholesale markets to retail market due to various factors such as transportation cost, loading/unloading expenses, grading/ sorting, wholesaler’s margin, wastages during movement/weighing, location of retail shops, fixed overhead expenses of retailers and margin of retailers etc.

(b): Steps taken by government to control the prices of fruits and vegetables are as follows:

• The Govt. is implementing the scheme called electronic National Agriculture market (e-NAM) to lower transaction costs to buyers and stable prices and availability to consumers.
• Farmers are mobilised into Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) for aggregation and economies of scale. Efforts are being made to link FPOs to market by way of direct marketing farmer consumer markets/Apni Mandi and e-markets.
• Assistance is provided for development of post harvest management and marketing infrastructure such as cold storages, ripening chamber, pack houses, reefer vehicles, primary and wholesale markets, Kisan Mandies, etc.
• Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for procurement of horticultural commodities which are perishable in nature and are not covered under Price Support Scheme.

(c) & (d): No such proposal is under consideration of this Ministry.

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