The government is trying to control onion prices. Common people from different areas of Delhi are queuing up outside Krishi Bhavan. He is getting onions at a concessional rate of Rs 25 per kg from NAFED mobile vans.
Despite efforts, onion is not reaching the vegetable markets as per supply and demand and its prices remain high in the retail market.
Manoj, a resident of Karol Bagh, who was queuing in front of a Nafed van, told NDTV, “Onions are priced at Rs 60-80 per kg in the retail markets near my house. That’s why we came here. It took 45 minutes to buy onions at Rs 25 per kg. .” “Standing in line ever since.” Common people demand that NAFED and NCCF should increase the sale of onions at subsidized rates so that more people can buy cheap onions.
Arhar, mung, gram and urad dal have also become expensive in the retail market in the last one month. Mohit Goyal, a grocery shopkeeper, says availability of dal in wholesale markets has decreased, due to which prices of dal have increased in retail markets.
Mohit Goyal told NDTV, “In the last one month, different types of dal have become 15% to 20% more expensive. In the last one month, the price of arhar dal has gone up from Rs 140/kg to Rs 160/kg; the price of mung dal has gone up by Rs. 100/kg to Rs.120/kg. Gram dal increased from Rs.70/kg to Rs.85/kg and urad dal increased from Rs.100/kg to Rs.120/kg. Knowingly buy pulses. Those who used to buy two kilos earlier now buy only one and a half kilos. Sales have been affected.”
The rise in retail prices of food staples such as onions and pulses has come at a time when sowing of important rabi crops has declined compared to last year.
According to figures released by the Crops Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, total sowing of important rabi crops has decreased by 8.87 lakh hectares till November 17, 2023 as compared to last year. As of November 17, 2023, wheat sowing was recorded in an area of about 86.02 lakh hectares, compared to 91.02 lakh hectares during the same period last year. This means that till November 17, 2023, wheat can be planted in 5.01 lakh hectares less than last year.
As of November 17, 2023, about 65.16 lakh hectares of pulses were sown in the country, as against 69.37 lakh hectares of pulses during the same period last year. That is, till November 17, 2023, pulses crop has been sown in 4.21 lakh hectares less than last year.
Inflation due to adverse weather events
Speaking at the FICCI-IBA event today, Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said, “RBI is fully focused and has Arjun’s eye on the four per cent inflation target. Inflation is likely to be driven by global factors and adverse weather events. Increase in food prices. “Remains sensitive to subsequent shocks.”
Obviously, the challenge on the inflation front could be bigger in the coming weeks.