Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the situation arising out of the rise in prices of food items. He has been briefed on the steps being taken to contain the rising prices of onions, potatoes and other seasonal vegetables and fruits. The States have been asked to crack down on hoarders.
Sources said the decision to impose a minimum export price on potato had been put on hold for now. Only 0.35 per cent of the entire produce was exported, which did not affect domestic prices.
After a meeting between Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the Ministers concerned on Tuesday, it was declared that the government would offload some stocks of rice for consumers and impose a minimum export price on onion to contain food inflation. Over 22 food commodities were being monitored by the government.
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh told The Hindu that a presentation was made before Mr. Modi on Wednesday by the Department of Animal Husbandry, which emphasised the need for forging a “blue revolution” in milk and dairy products.
