Lok Sabha Question No. 2559 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-10
Subject: Prices of Fruits and Vegetables
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: MANOJ RAJORIA

O.I.H.

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2559

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  MAY, 2016

## PRICES OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

2559.    DR. MANOJ RAJORIA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the fact that the prices of fruits and vegetables  increase  several  fold  and  even  upto  five  times  when  they  reach  retail  markets from mandi/wholesale market;
- (b) if  so,  the  reasons  therefor  and  the  action  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to tackle the said problem;
- (c) whether the Government can assure that the gap between wholesale and retail prices will be bridged;
- (d) if  so, whether the Government is contemplating on fixing the maximum profit margin by capping the price margin of fruits and vegetables; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details thereof along with the time by which the maximum profit margin of fruits and vegetables is likely to be fixed?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्राऱय में राज्य मंत्री (SHRI  MOHANBHAI  KUNDARIYA)

- (a) to (c): A statement showing monthly all India  average wholesale and retail prices of major fruits and vegetables in 2016 is given at annexure, which shows retail price increased by 27.9%   (minimum) to 85.9 % (maximum) as compared to wholesale price.

Reasons for fluctuations in prices include seasonality of production, perishable nature of  these  commodities  and  mismatch  in  demand  and  supply.  The  difference  between wholesale and retail prices depend on a number of factors such as, number of intermediaries from  wholesale  mandi  to  consumers,  transportation  cost,  loading/unloading  expenses, grading/sorting,  wholesaler's  margins,  wastages  during  movements/weighting,  location  of retail shop etc.

Government has taken steps towards market reforms. States/ UTs have been advised to  amend  their  respective  State  APMC  Acts.  Government  has  launched  the  e-National Agricultural Market (eNAM) to ensure better price discovery for agriculture produce.

(d) & (e): No, Madam.

## Annexure

Annexure referred to in part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.2559 due for 10.05.2016

Monthly All India average wholesale and retail prices of major fruits and vegetables in 2016

|            |            | Wholesale prices   | Wholesale prices   | Wholesale prices   | Wholesale prices   | Retail Prices   | Retail Prices   | Retail Prices   | Retail Prices   | %increase in retail price as compared to wholesale price   | %increase in retail price as compared to wholesale price   | %increase in retail price as compared to wholesale price   | %increase in retail price as compared to wholesale price   |
|------------|------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| Commodity  | Unit       | JAN                | FEB                | MAR                | APR                | JAN             | FEB             | MAR             | APR             | JAN                                                        | FEB                                                        | MAR                                                        | APR                                                        |
| Vegetables | Vegetables | Vegetables         | Vegetables         | Vegetables         | Vegetables         | Vegetables      | Vegetables      | Vegetables      | Vegetables      | Vegetables                                                 | Vegetables                                                 | Vegetables                                                 | Vegetables                                                 |
| Potato     | Rs./Kg.    | 8.8                | 9.8                | 10.6               | 13.0               | 14.9            | 15.8            | 16.0            | 19.8            | 68.8                                                       | 61.5                                                       | 50.9                                                       | 52.9                                                       |
| Onion      | Rs./Kg.    | 14.9               | 12.0               | 10.9               | 11.3               | 21.6            | 18.2            | 16.7            | 16.3            | 44.7                                                       | 50.8                                                       | 53.3                                                       | 44.2                                                       |
| Tomato     | Rs./Kg.    | 12.0               | 8.6                | 9.1                | 16.0               | 21.0            | 15.9            | 15.8            | 23.2            | 75.5                                                       | 85.9                                                       | 73.6                                                       | 44.4                                                       |
| Fruits     | Fruits     | Fruits             | Fruits             | Fruits             | Fruits             | Fruits          | Fruits          | Fruits          | Fruits          | Fruits                                                     | Fruits                                                     | Fruits                                                     | Fruits                                                     |
| Apples     | Rs./Kg.    | 67.2               | 68.7               | 68.1               | 72.8               | 101.6           | 105.0           | 112.6           | 124.4           | 51.1                                                       | 53.0                                                       | 65.3                                                       | 70.9                                                       |
| Banana     | Rs./Dozen  | 25.3               | 26.8               | 29.0               | 32.4               | 38.9            | 39.2            | 39.2            | 41.4            | 53.9                                                       | 45.9                                                       | 35.4                                                       | 27.9                                                       |

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