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New Delhi : The retail prices of pulses, Onion, Potato & Tomato, which were on upward trend since September, 2020, are on a declining trend from December, 2020.
In terms of Consumer Price Index (CPI), the inflation rate for Pulses and Products in December, 2020, was 15.98% as against 18.05% in November, 2020. In case of vegetables which include onion, potato and tomato, the inflation rate in December 2020 was (-)10.41% as against 15.48% in November, 2020.
Seasonality in the arrival of onion, tomato and potato, rather than overall demand-supply gap, is a major determining factor of the availability and prices of these highly perishable commodities.
To ensure the availability of onion to domestic consumer at affordable prices, the Government imposed a ban on export of onion with effect from September 14, 2020. As the retail price of onion breached the Price Trigger for imposition of stock limit under Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, the Government imposed stock limit of 25 Metric Ton for wholesaler and 2 Metric Ton for retailer with effect from October 23, 2020.
Further, to augment the domestic availability of onion and potato, the Government relaxed quarantine and fumigation norms for imports, and onions were also procured and disposed of through NAFED from the Indian seaports. As the prices of onion stabilised, the ban on onion export was lifted w.e.f. January 1, 2021, and also the stock limit notified for the period up to December 31, 2020, was allowed to lapse.
The Government operates buffer stock of onion under the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) as a measure to moderate prices. Under this scheme, stock of rabi onion is procured directly from the farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) during harvest time to ensure remunerative prices to the farmers. The stock is released during the lean season through retail outlets of the State and Central Governments and also in the open market in a calibrated manner to make onion available to the consumers at reasonable prices.
With a view to maintaining supplies of essential commodities, State Governments as well as Central Government exercise powers under the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980, which provides for detention in such cases for the purpose of prevention of black-marketing, hoarding, speculative trading etc.
This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Danve Raosaheb Dadarao in Lok Sabha on February 2, 2021, according to a PIB release.