Question : Rising Prices of Onion- Potato and Vegetables

(a) whether onion is being sold at the retail price of around Rs. 100 to Rs. 200 per kilogram in the market due to lack of timely intervention by the Government in this regard;
(b) whether potato is also being sold at the rate of Rs. 40-50 per kilogram in market despite the harvesting of new crops of potato;
(c) whether potato, onion and tomato are the main vegetables for Indians and they are feeling the punch of the increase in their prices; and
(d) the measures being taken by the Government to bring the prices of the vegetables down and make these available to the common people at affordable price?

THE MINISTER OF STATE
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI DANVE RAOSAHEB DADARAO)

(a) to (c) : Details of all India average retail prices of onion, potato and tomato is at Annexure. As per the area and production of horticulture crops for 2018-19 (3rd Advance Estimates) brought out by Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare; Potato, Onion and Tomato together accounted for about 52% of total vegetable production in 2018-19.

(d) : Government takes various measures from time to time to stabilize prices of essential food items including vegetables which, inter-alia, include appropriately utilizing trade and fiscal policy instruments like import duty, Minimum Export Price, export restrictions, imposition of stock limits and advising States for effective action against hoarders & black marketers etc. to regulate domestic availability and moderate prices. Besides, Government is also implementing Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) to help moderate the volatility in prices of agri-horticultural commodities like onion and potato. Government banned export of onions and imposed stock limits on traders under Essential Commodities Act on 29.09.19. Government also imported onions for augmenting availability and moderating its prices.

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ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.409 FOR 04.02.2020 REGARDING RISING PRICES OF ONION, POTATO AND VEGETABLES .


Daily Average Retail Price of vegetables (Rs. per kg)
Commodities Price As On 1 Week Ago 1 Month Ago 2 Months Ago
31-01-20 24-01-20 31-12-19 30-11-19
Potato 24.99 27.16 26.55 23.55
Onion 49.96 56.61 92.68 76.74
Tomato 24.32 26.02 26.58 33.04
Source : States/UTs Civil Supplies Department.