Lok Sabha Question No. 2026 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-03
Subject: Prices of Vegetables
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: A. Ganeshamurthi

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2026

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.03.2020

## PRICES OF VEGETABLES

## 2026.  SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government has taken any serious steps to reduce the prices of essential items like vegetables particularly onion across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Union Government has imported onion from various countries and the same has not been sold in the market because people has not shown any interest to buy these imported onion due to its poor quality;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the total amount spent to import the said onion from abroad?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh nkuos jkolkgsc nknkjko½

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

- (a)  &  (b)  :    Government  has  taken  several  steps  to  curb  price  rise  in  essential  items  like  vegetables particularly onion across the country, as detailed at Annexure.
- (c)  &  (d)  :      Based  on  the  direction  of  the  Union  Government,  MMTC  contracted  import  of  41,950 metric  tonnes  (MT)  of  onions  against  which  import  of  about  35,857  MT  onions  materialized.  As  on 27.02.2020, about 26,400 MT onions have been disposed off by NAFED and MMTC.
- (e) : As on 27.02.2020, an amount of ₹220.50 crores is released to MMTC during 2019-20 from Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) for import of the said onions.

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2026 FOR 03.03.2020 REGARDING PRICES OF VEGETABLES.

## Recent Steps taken by Government to control Rise in Prices of Onion

- I. During 2019-20, buffer stock of about 57,373 MT Rabi onion created and distributed to State Governments,  other  Central  /  State  agencies,  Cooperatives  and  also  sold  in  various  mandis through open auction.
- II. The benefit to exporters of onions under Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) was withdrawn through notification dated 11.06.2019.
- III. Minimum Export Price (MEP) of $850/MT was imposed on 13.09.2019.
- IV. On 29 th September, 2019, export of onions was banned.
- V. Stock limits on onions were imposed on traders across the country under EC Act.
- VI. All  States/UTs  advised  to  indicate  their  demand  for  onion  at  several  forums/  levels  including through National Consultative Meeting (NCM), video conferences and written communications.
- VII. State Governments requested to hold regular meetings with the traders of Onions at State and District  level  to  prevent  hoarding,  speculative trading and profiteering, unfair and illegal trade practices like cartelling, etc.
- VIII. Onions from the buffer stock were supplied to State Governments of Haryana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh at no-profit no-loss basis.
- IX. During July-Oct./Nov., 2019, onions were supplied at about Rs.15.60/kg from the buffer stock for direct retailing in Delhi-NCR through Mother Dairy, NCCF, NAFED and Govt. of NCT of Delhi at reasonable prices (Rs.23.90/kg max.) to the consumers.
- X. During  Nov-Dec.,  2019,  NAFED  was  directed  to  undertake  procurement  of  surplus  Kharif onions from major producing States and its distribution/ supply to deficit/ consuming States.
- XI. To  facilitate  imports,  fumigation  norms  for  imported  onions  were  relaxed  by  DACFW  and importers were exempted from stock limits for imported stocks by DoCA.
- XII. MMTC directed to import onion under Price Stabilization Fund scheme and improve availability of onion in the country.
- XIII. During  Dec.  15,  2019  to  end-January,2020,  MMTC  imported  about  35,857  MT  onions  on direction of Government.
- XIV. States  requested  to  place  demand  for  imported  onions  through  several  video  conferences  and written communications.
- XV. Imported onions supplied to States/ UTs as per their demand as well as being disposed in the market/mandi/online  portal  at  prevailing  rates  to  improve  availability  and  help  moderate  its prices.

*****