New Delhi: Soaring prices of vegetables and fruits are increasing the heat for the common man in the midst of the summers largely due to constrained supply, and the experts feel that a long-term solution is still elusive.
More than half the fruits and vegetables in the wholesale markets in Delhi have recorded rise of up to 100 per cent and the effect could be more when it comes to retail prices. According to data compiled by Delhi Agricultural and Marketing Board for 48 fruits and vegetables, coriander prices have more than doubled to Rs 800 per quintal during the month ended March 20, while sweet pumpkin was being sold at Rs 850 a quintal compared to Rs 325 a month ago. However, there was some respite for the common man with prices of potato dropping to Rs 250 from Rs 413 a quintal, while Tomato was being sold at Rs 560, down from Rs 720, at the Azadpur market.
Marketmen said the retail prices of vegetables are usually more than double the rate being charged in the wholesale market, but added that arrival of vegetables is sure to improve in the next few weeks and ease the pressure. The rates of milk and dairy products, pulses, cereals, foodgrain and edible oil have shown an upward trend, prompting the government policy makers to take some immediate decisions like cutting down import duty on edible oil and rice to increase the domestic availability.
"The recent measures announced by the government to augment food supply would bring an immediate relief. But the pressure would still remain," Mumbai-based rating agency Crisil Principal Economist D K Joshi said. The rate of inflation has reached a whopping 5.92 per cent, mainly due to rise in the prices of food articles. With the inflation racing to nearly a year''s high at about six per cent, the supply side management would hold the key to check prices, Joshi said, adding that the consumers may have to pay more for food items because prices would continue to rise, with global food stocks coming to a 20-year low. Commenting on the global situation, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar recently said that India imported wheat at about $100-110 a tonne last year but the international prices have now nearly quadrupled.
More than half the fruits and vegetables in the wholesale markets in Delhi have recorded rise of up to 100 per cent and the effect could be more when it comes to retail prices. According to data compiled by Delhi Agricultural and Marketing Board for 48 fruits and vegetables, coriander prices have more than doubled to Rs 800 per quintal during the month ended March 20, while sweet pumpkin was being sold at Rs 850 a quintal compared to Rs 325 a month ago. However, there was some respite for the common man with prices of potato dropping to Rs 250 from Rs 413 a quintal, while Tomato was being sold at Rs 560, down from Rs 720, at the Azadpur market.
Marketmen said the retail prices of vegetables are usually more than double the rate being charged in the wholesale market, but added that arrival of vegetables is sure to improve in the next few weeks and ease the pressure. The rates of milk and dairy products, pulses, cereals, foodgrain and edible oil have shown an upward trend, prompting the government policy makers to take some immediate decisions like cutting down import duty on edible oil and rice to increase the domestic availability.
"The recent measures announced by the government to augment food supply would bring an immediate relief. But the pressure would still remain," Mumbai-based rating agency Crisil Principal Economist D K Joshi said. The rate of inflation has reached a whopping 5.92 per cent, mainly due to rise in the prices of food articles. With the inflation racing to nearly a year''s high at about six per cent, the supply side management would hold the key to check prices, Joshi said, adding that the consumers may have to pay more for food items because prices would continue to rise, with global food stocks coming to a 20-year low. Commenting on the global situation, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar recently said that India imported wheat at about $100-110 a tonne last year but the international prices have now nearly quadrupled.
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