Lok Sabha Question No. 3891 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-09
Subject: Hike in Vegetables and Fruits Prices
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RAM KUMAR SHARMA KUSHWAHA, KAUSHAL KISHORE, RAJESH RANJAN  (PAPPU  YADAV), VINCENT H PALA, RAMCHARAN BOHARA, SHIVKUMAR CHANABASAPPA UDASI, OM PRAKASH YADAV, RAJAN BABURAO  VICHARE, SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3891

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  9 TH  AUGUST, 2016

## HIKE IN VEGETABLES AND FRUITS PRICES

## 3891.  SHRI RAM KUMAR SHARMA:

SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE:

SHRI RAJESH RANJAN:

SHRI VINCENT H. PALA:

SHRI RAM CHARAN BOHRA:

SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI:

SHRI OM PRAKASH YADAV:

SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE   ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that prices of fruits and vegetables including onion,  potato  and  tomato  have  increased  manifold  during  the  last  three  months  and these have become unaffordable for the common man, if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
- (b) the  total  stock  of  onion,  tomato  and  potato  available  in  the  market  as  of  date along  with  the  plan  made  by  the  Government  for  off  season  supply  of  fruits  and vegetables to curb the price rise;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that there is a gap between the demand and supply in vegetable sector which causes the increase in their prices, if so, the details thereof  along  with  the  production,  demand  and  supply  of  onion,  potato  and  tomato during  each  of  the  last  three  years,  State-wise  and  the  steps  taken  to  bridge  the demand-supply gap;
- (d) whether the Government is aware that hoarding of vegetables is the main reason for  increase  in  the  price  rise,  if  so,  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  against  the hoarders of vegetables; and
- (e) the comprehensive steps as well as long term and short term measures taken by the Government to promote the production and supply of fruits and vegetables and to bring down their prices?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã  ½ãñâ  Àã·¾ã  ½ãâ¨ããè (  SHRI  S.S. AHLUWALIA)

- (a): Price of fruits and vegetables differs from place to place and depends on various factors such as seasonality of production, quality of produce, mismatch in demand and supply etc.. The all India average retail price of major fruits and vegetables for the last three months are as under:

( Rs. /kg)

| Commodity   |   May,16 |   June,16 |   July,16 |   %Variation in July over May |
|-------------|----------|-----------|-----------|-------------------------------|
| 1           |      2   |       3   |       4   |                           5   |
| Onion       |     15.8 |      16.9 |      18   |                          13.7 |
| Potato      |     20.3 |      22.7 |      24.6 |                          21.2 |
| Tomato      |     28.9 |      48.8 |      42.6 |                          47.6 |
| Apple       |    122   |     135.9 |     130.6 |                           7   |
| Banana      |     33.2 |      33.7 |      35   |                           5.3 |

Source:- National Horticulture Board (NHB)

(b) to (d): State-wise production of potato, onion and tomato  for last three years is at annexure. Creation of a buffer stock of essential vegetables like onion for release into the market to curb prices is a measure taken by the government.

All  India  production and  demand of potato, onion and tomato for the last three years is given below :

(In '000 Tonnes)

| Commodity   | 2012-13   | 2013-14   | 2014-15   | 2015-16*   |
|-------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|------------|
| Potato      | Potato    | Potato    | Potato    | Potato     |
| Production  | 45344     | 41555     | 48009     | 45599      |
| Demand      | 30847     | 31320     | 31777     | 34358      |
| Onion       | Onion     | Onion     | Onion     | Onion      |
| Production  | 16813     | 19402     | 18927     | 20214      |
| Demand      | 14889     | 14623     | 14064     | 14687      |
| Tomato      | Tomato    | Tomato    | Tomato    | Tomato     |
| Production  | 18227     | 18736     | 16385     | 18165      |
| Demand      | 11764     | 12018     | 11966     | 12114      |

*: Provisional

Above  table  shows  that  production  of  potato,  onion  and  tomato  is  more  than demand  and  there  is  no  gap  from  supply  side,  during  the  year.  However,  in  certain periods of the year, there are price fluctuations caused by demand supply mismatches. There is no question of hoarding as there is no stock limit on vegetables.

(e): The  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH),  a  Centrally Sponsored  Scheme  is  being  implemented  during  XII  Plan  w.e.f.  2014-15,  for  holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering all the horticulture crops including fruits and vegetables. Under MIDH,  assistance is provided for long term and short term measures to  promote  the  production  and  supply  of  fruits  and  vegetables  through  production  of quality planting material and of  hybrid vegetables, import of high quality seeds, setting up and modernization of nurseries. setting up and strengthening of tissue culture units, establishment of new gardens/orchards and plantations, rejuvenation of old and senile orchards, post harvest management which includes primary processing units, minimal processing  units,  ripening  chamber,  reefer  vehicle,  to  minimize  losses  and  for  value addition.  It  also  includes  creation  of  water  resources,  adoption  of  Integrated  Pest Management  (IPM),  Integrated  Nutrient  Management  (INM),  organic  farming  and capacity building of farmers and technicians for adopting improved technologies. Other Government measures include facilitating  direct  marketing,  farmer  consumer  markets and e-markets.

## Annexure referred in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3891 for Answer on 09.08.2016 State-wise Production of Potato, Onion and Tomato

## ANNEXURE

( in '000 MT)

| STATES/UTs        | POTATO   | POTATO   | POTATO   | ONION    | ONION    | ONION    | TOMATO   | TOMATO   | TOMATO   |
|-------------------|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|
| STATES/UTs        | 2013-14  | 2014-15  | 2015-16* | 2013-14  | 2014-15  | 2015-16* | 2013-14  | 2014-15  | 2015-16* |
| ANDAMAN NICOBAR   |          |          |          |          |          |          | 0.70     | 0.76     | 0.65     |
| ANDHRA PRADESH    | 51.06    | 43.93    | 38.19    | 1004.55  | 575.58   | 895.59   | 3354.47  | 1473.54  | 2104.81  |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH |          |          |          |          |          |          | 13.50    | 14.00    | 2.75     |
| ASSAM             | 700.14   | 1706.04  | 1806.41  | 28.81    | 32.42    | 189.92   | 408.36   | 418.03   | 405.60   |
| BIHAR             | 6536.00  | 6345.56  | 6346.70  | 1304.16  | 1247.31  | 2142.40  | 1061.77  | 1046.44  | 1001.00  |
| CHHATTISGARH      | 556.40   | 600.93   | 600.93   | 309.54   | 308.10   | 308.10   | 814.22   | 868.60   | 754.25   |
| D & N HAVELI      |          |          |          |          |          |          | 1.80     | 1.80     |          |
| DAMAN & DIU       |          |          |          |          |          |          |          | 0.04     |          |
| DELHI             | 15.72    | 12.28    | 11.33    | 17.07    | 18.05    | 0.04     | 14.20    | 13.80    | 20.70    |
| GOA               |          |          |          |          |          |          |          |          | 0.00     |
| GUJARAT           | 2267.38  | 2964.10  | 2964.10  | 1851.22  | 1126.55  | 1126.55  | 1259.01  | 1259.01  | 1259.01  |
| HARYANA           | 696.51   | 722.58   | 722.58   | 672.17   | 640.22   | 667.12   | 627.28   | 666.56   | 666.56   |
| HIMACHAL PRADESH  | 243.26   | 243.26   | 243.26   | 43.71    | 39.36    | 39.36    | 430.79   | 413.71   | 413.71   |
| JAMMU & KASHMIR   | 127.24   | 127.24   | 127.24   | 65.27    | 65.27    | 65.27    | 88.09    | 88.09    | 88.09    |
| JHARKHAND         | 653.12   | 659.65   | 659.65   | 320.53   | 322.73   | 322.73   | 251.44   | 253.95   | 348.11   |
| KARNATAKA         | 539.70   | 589.12   | 595.20   | 2065.16  | 3227.04  | 3206.00  | 2068.38  | 2034.37  | 2035.00  |
| KERALA            | 8.11     | 1.80     | 1.80     |          | 0.18     | 0.18     |          | 8.23     | 58.32    |
| LAKSHADWEEP       |          |          |          |          |          |          | 0.01     | 0.03     | 0.03     |
| M.P.              | 2322.40  | 3048.00  | 3161.00  | 2826.02  | 2842.00  | 2848.00  | 1937.37  | 2177.00  | 2285.90  |
| MAHARASHTRA       | 370.00   | 200.75   | 157.85   | 5864.04  | 5361.00  | 5481.32  | 1200.00  | 762.16   | 994.76   |
| MANIPUR           |          |          |          | 4.05     | 5.09     | 5.03     | 28.73    | 25.67    | 31.74    |
| MEGHALAYA         | 181.82   | 191.50   | 191.50   | 4.13     | 4.30     | 4.30     | 51.42    | 52.00    | 33.24    |
| MIZORAM           | 3.00     | 1.44     | 1.44     | 3.74     | 10.00    | 10.00    | 8.27     | 10.12    | 10.20    |
| NAGALAND          | 65.10    | 65.10    | 65.10    | 7.70     | 7.70     | 7.70     | 20.00    | 20.00    | 19.52    |
| ODISHA            | 249.76   | 268.85   | 273.83   | 432.05   | 395.96   | 369.45   | 1385.96  | 1374.94  | 1272.83  |
| PUDUCHERRY        |          |          |          | 0.11     | 0.10     | 0.25     | 0.06     | 0.27     |          |
| PUNJAB            | 2189.16  | 2262.40  | 2262.40  | 185.40   | 188.18   | 188.18   | 181.07   | 185.90   | 196.97   |
| RAJASTHAN         | 113.25   | 149.81   | 150.36   | 704.96   | 960.78   | 800.07   | 81.75    | 75.23    | 83.55    |
| SIKKIM            | 49.86    | 49.87    | 49.87    | 1.72     | 1.72     | 1.72     | 9.08     | 9.08     | 8.03     |
| TAMIL NADU        | 115.63   | 130.56   | 70.75    | 472.69   | 259.63   | 246.55   | 332.50   | 328.20   | 647.33   |
| TELANGANA         | 98.58    | 106.11   | 106.11   | 424.22   | 450.54   | 450.54   | 1483.71  | 1080.61  | 1279.19  |
| TRIPURA           | 153.80   | 159.47   | 159.47   |          | 2.59     | 2.59     | 39.00    | 44.03    | 2.29     |
| U.P.              | 13808.76 | 14879.34 | 14879.34 | 409.96   | 413.60   | 413.60   | 327.83   | 413.83   | 821.31   |
| UTTARAKHAND       | 409.62   | 452.50   | 452.54   | 35.86    | 41.28    | 41.31    | 113.65   | 115.41   | 115.45   |
| WEST BENGAL       | 9030.00  | 12027.00 | 9500.00  | 342.85   | 380.15   | 380.15   | 1141.50  | 1149.59  | 1204.51  |
| TOTAL             | 41555.38 | 48009.19 | 45598.96 | 19401.68 | 18927.41 | 20214.00 | 18735.91 | 16384.98 | 18165.40 |

- *******