Lok Sabha Question No. 5371 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Fall in Prices of Onion and Potato
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Supriya Sadanand Sule, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Amol Ramsing Kolhe

## Government of India

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5371

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2023

## FALL IN PRICES OF ONION AND POTATO

5371.  SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA: DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE: DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE: DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

## 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 prices of onions and potato has fallen drastically in the domestic market due to its bumper crop in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  corrective  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  sure  that onion and potato farmers get optimum price for their produce;
- (c) whether the Government has assessed the loss incurred by the onion and Potato farmers in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to provide any financial assistance to onion and potato farmers to pull them out of this crisis; and
- (f) whether inadequate and improper storage facilities and lack of number of godowns in the country is one of the major reasons for suffering of farmers in the country and if so, the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h (श्री अश्विनी क ु मार चौबे)

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (e) :  The mandi prices of onion and potato has declined in major producing belts in the country. Bulk arrivals  of  Kharif  and  Late  Kharif  crops  which  are  not  suitable  for  storage  has  led  to  the  fall  in  the  onion prices. Similarly, good production of potato and bulk arrivals in the market has led to fall in its mandi prices. In  order  to  support  the  farmers,  the  government  has  directed  NAFED  and  NCCF  to  procure  onion  for simultaneous  disposal  in  consumption  centres  outside  the  major  producing  States.  Till  29.03.2023,  the  two agencies have procured total quantity of 26,602.26 MT. The government has also decided to procure and store 3.00  lakh  metric  tonnes  of  Rabi-2023  onion  under  the  Price  Stabilisation  Fund  (PSF)  for  calibrated  and targeted releases to stabilize prices during the lean season. In respect of potato, the government has sanctioned procurement of 10.00 lakh metric tonnes in Uttar Pradesh under Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries implements an umbrella Scheme, namely, Pradhan Mantri Kisan  Sampada  Yojana  (PMKSY)  under  which  it  has  released  Rs.35.32  crore  towards  transportation  and storage subsidy for onion and potato.

Apart from measures taken by the Central Government, major onion and potato producing states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have also announced support to the farmers.

- (f)       :  The Ministry of Food Processing Industries provides grants-in-aid @35% of eligible project cost for projects  in  General  Areas  and  @50%  of  eligible  project  cost  for  projects  in  Difficult  Areas  as  well  as  for projects of SC/ST, FPOs and SHGs under PMKSY for setting up of food processing industries, including cold storage/ frozen store/ CA store/ godowns.
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