Question : PRICES OF ONION

(a) whether the Government is aware about the revision in the prices of onion declared by the Competition Commission of India (CCI);

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether it is a fact that hoarding of onions by the retailers and whole sellers in various States including Maharashtra are the main reasons for increase in the prices of onions;

(d) if so, whether the CCI has conducted any inquiry into this matter;

(e) if so, the outcome of the inquiry along with the action taken by the Government against the hoarders of onions in the country; and

(f) the other steps taken by the Government to provide remunerative prices to onion growers?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI TARIQ ANWAR)

(a) & (b): Competition Commission of India has not administered the price of onion.

(c) to (e): CCI took suo-moto cognizance of increase in prices of onions in 2011, hoarding being attributed as one of the reasons for hike of onion prices and referred the matter to DG, CCI for investigation.

Based on “Investigation Report”, the Commission closed the matter on 10/04/2012 under Section 26 (6) of the Competition Commission Act, 2002.

The findings in the report do not mention hoarding as a reason for increase in the prices of onion.

(f): Though Agriculture marketing is a State subject, the Ministry of Agriculture has taken several steps to provide remunerative prices to producers including onion growers, alongwith affordable prices for consumers. These measures, inter-alia, include advocacy of reforms of the agri marketing sector to remove restrictive and monopolistic provisions of APM Acts of States/UTs to create fair competition, efficiency in the markets and reduce the supply chain so as to ensure remunerative prices to producers and affordable prices for consumers. Further, the schemes of this Ministry such as National Horticulture Mission (NHM) and Development/Strengthening of Agricultural marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardization (AMIGS) have provisions to incentivize construction of scientifically built godowns for agriculture produce including onion.