(a) whether it is true that the Government is considering to stock up on onion and potato to check price rise;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also true that the two Government entities/agencies National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation and Small Farmers Agri Business Consortium will be tasked with procuring and storing the two kitchen staples; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) to (d): The Government has set up the Price Stablization Fund (PSF) with a corpus of Rs.500 crore to support market intervention operations by Central Agencies and State Governments, of selected agricultural produce which are prone to excessive price volatility namely onion, potato and pulses.
Depending upon production scenario and anticipated price movement of onion and potato in 2016-17, the Government may consider procurement of onion and potato through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) and Small Farmers Agri Business Consortium (SFAC).