Lok Sabha Question No. 383 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: Prices of Essential Food Items
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Ram Prasad Chaudhary

## Government of India

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 383 (OIH) TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2024

## PRICES OF ESSENTIAL FOOD ITEMS

## 383. SHRI RAM PRASAD CHAUDHARY:

(OIH)

## 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 essential food items have increased during the last three years and the current year and if so, the details thereof, food items-wise and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the role of hoarders/black marketers in the rise in prices of essential food items during the said period has come to the notice of the Government and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the remedial measures taken/being taken by the Government to stabilize/reduce the prices of essential food items to protect the interest of common man?

## ANSWER miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h (श्री बी.एल. वर्मा )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L.VERMA)

- (a) :  Department of Consumer Affairs monitors the daily prices of selected food commodities from 555 price reporting centres across the country. All-India annual average retail prices of 22 food commodities for the last three years and current are placed at Annexure . The annual average retail prices of food commodities such as Masoor Dal, Groundnut oil, Mustard oil, Soya oil, Sunflower oil, Vanaspati and Palm oil in current year are lower than previous years. Prices of food commodities tend to be volatile as they are affected by several factors, such as mismatch in demand and supply, seasonality, supply chain constraints, artificial shortage created by hoarding and black marketing, rise in international prices etc. Sometimes slight disruptions in supply chain or crop damage due to heavy rains lead to spike in prices of agri-horticultural commodities.
- (b)    :    The  Essential  Commodities  Act,  1955  and  the  Prevention  of  Black  Marketing  and  Maintenance  of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980, are enforced to deal with the regulation of the production, supply and distribution of essential commodities and malpractices like black marketing, hoarding and profiteering. During the past three years, the government imposed stock limits under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 on certain pulses and wheat to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation. The government had, vide orders dated 21.06.2024 and 11.07.2024, imposed stock limits on Tur and Chana which remain in force till 30.09.2024. The government also, vide notification dated 24.06.2024, imposed stock limit on wheat till 31.03.2025.

(c)  :   The Government keeps a close watch on the production and availability of essential commodities through regular  reviews  by  the  Inter-Ministerial  Committee  (IMC).  The  Committee  reviews,  on  regular  basis,  the situation of prices and price trends of essential agri-horticulture commodities and suggests measures to enhance availability through increased domestic production and through imports. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW) is a major stakeholder in all these meetings and continues to undertake measures to increase production and productivity.

Buffer stocks of pulses and onion have been maintained for market interventions through calibrated and targeted release to moderate the prices in the market. Part of the stock of pulses from the buffer are converted to dals for retail sale to the consumers at affordable prices under the Bharat Dal brand. Similarly, atta and rice are distributed to retail consumers under Bharat brand at subsidized prices. Onion from the buffer are released in a calibrated and targeted manners to moderate prices in high price consuming centres at wholesale markets and through retail outlets. Onion is distributed among retail consumers at Rs.35 per kg through stationary retail outlets and mobile vans in major consumption centres. These measures have helped in making essential food commodities  such  as  pulses,  rice,  atta  and  onion  available  to  consumers  at  affordable  prices  and  also  in stabilising the prices.

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## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 383 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2024 REGARDING PRICES OF ESSENTIAL FOOD ITEMS.

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| All India Yearly Retail Average Prices of 22 Essential Commodities.   | All India Yearly Retail Average Prices of 22 Essential Commodities.   | All India Yearly Retail Average Prices of 22 Essential Commodities.   | All India Yearly Retail Average Prices of 22 Essential Commodities.   | All India Yearly Retail Average Prices of 22 Essential Commodities.   | All India Yearly Retail Average Prices of 22 Essential Commodities.   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                       |                                                                       | Unit:                                                                 | Unit:                                                                 | Unit:                                                                 | Unit:                                                                 |
| S.No.                                                                 | Commodity                                                             | Year                                                                  | Year                                                                  | Year                                                                  | Year                                                                  |
|                                                                       |                                                                       | 2021                                                                  | 2022                                                                  | 2023                                                                  | 2024                                                                  |
| 1                                                                     | Rice                                                                  | 35.98                                                                 | 37.03                                                                 | 40.72                                                                 | 44.03                                                                 |
| 2                                                                     | Wheat                                                                 | 27.25                                                                 | 30.15                                                                 | 32.48                                                                 | 33.77                                                                 |
| 3                                                                     | Atta (Wheat)                                                          | 30.75                                                                 | 34.5                                                                  | 37.66                                                                 | 38.82                                                                 |
| 4                                                                     | Gram Dal                                                              | 75.26                                                                 | 73.66                                                                 | 76.98                                                                 | 87.64                                                                 |
| 5                                                                     | Tur/Arhar Dal                                                         | 105.51                                                                | 107.29                                                                | 132.92                                                                | 157.76                                                                |
| 6                                                                     | Urad Dal                                                              | 107.92                                                                | 106.57                                                                | 113.79                                                                | 124.79                                                                |
| 7                                                                     | Moong Dal                                                             | 103.89                                                                | 102.63                                                                | 110.51                                                                | 116.99                                                                |
| 8                                                                     | Masoor Dal                                                            | 88.75                                                                 | 96.21                                                                 | 93.12                                                                 | 92.27                                                                 |
| 9                                                                     | Groundnut Oil (Packed)                                                | 176.28                                                                | 189.24                                                                | 191.16                                                                | 189.9                                                                 |
| 10                                                                    | Mustard Oil (Packed)                                                  | 170.67                                                                | 181.98                                                                | 156.32                                                                | 149.5                                                                 |
| 11                                                                    | Vanaspati (Packed)                                                    | 131.02                                                                | 150.24                                                                | 130.81                                                                | 127.43                                                                |
| 12                                                                    | Soya Oil (Packed)                                                     | 147.26                                                                | 158.41                                                                | 137.58                                                                | 128.11                                                                |
| 13                                                                    | Sunflower Oil (Packed)                                                | 164.36                                                                | 178.2                                                                 | 151.96                                                                | 138.01                                                                |
| 14                                                                    | Palm Oil (Packed)                                                     | 128.28                                                                | 134.83                                                                | 110.23                                                                | 107.12                                                                |
| 15                                                                    | Potato                                                                | 21.34                                                                 | 25.2                                                                  | 22.63                                                                 | 30.73                                                                 |
| 16                                                                    | Onion                                                                 | 32.52                                                                 | 28                                                                    | 32.2                                                                  | 40.86                                                                 |
| 17                                                                    | Tomato                                                                | 32.63                                                                 | 36.61                                                                 | 43.6                                                                  | 43.87                                                                 |
| 18                                                                    | Sugar                                                                 | 40.62                                                                 | 41.87                                                                 | 43.02                                                                 | 44.65                                                                 |
| 19                                                                    | Gur                                                                   | 47.68                                                                 | 49.31                                                                 | 50.84                                                                 | 53.86                                                                 |
| 20                                                                    | Milk                                                                  | 49.11                                                                 | 52.81                                                                 | 57.45                                                                 | 58.78                                                                 |
| 21                                                                    | Tea Loose                                                             | 279.82                                                                | 282.48                                                                | 276.79                                                                | 275.46                                                                |
| 22                                                                    | Salt Pack (Iodised)                                                   | 18.09                                                                 | 20.25                                                                 | 22.06                                                                 | 22.33                                                                 |

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