highlights
Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Chaudhary said that the demand and supply of essential goods is being monitored.
The government is committed to balance the interests of both consumers and farmers.
The government is giving subsidy to promote the use of drones in the agriculture sector.
New Delhi. Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Chowdhary said on Tuesday that the government is closely monitoring the prices of all essential food items as well as the demand-supply situation. He said that the government is committed to balance the interests of both consumers and farmers. He said that the government has constituted a committee to regularly monitor the status of prices and availability.
Responding to a question about food inflation and the recent export ban on non-basmati white rice, Chowdhury said, “The government is monitoring the prices and availability of food items. Government takes measures to increase domestic availability and keep prices under control.
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‘No problem on the food supply front in the country’
He was addressing an event organized in association with India Post to offer postage stamps of ITC on Coarse Cereals. He said that depending on the demand-supply situation and the retail price, the government decides to impose export duty or stop exports. The minister said that there is no problem on the food supply front in the country. “The government looks after the interests of both consumers and farmers and tries to strike a balance,” Chowdhury said.
According to data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), inflation in food articles stood at 4.49 per cent in June, higher than May’s 2.96 per cent. Food items account for about half of the CPI (Consumer Price Index). The data showed that the annual rate of price increase was 19.19 per cent in case of spices, 12.71 per cent in ‘cereals and products’, 10.53 per cent in ‘pulses and products’ and seven per cent in eggs. On an annual basis, fruits also remained slightly costlier in June.
inflation came down
However, inflation in ‘oils and fats’ (-18.12 per cent) and vegetables (-0.93 per cent) came down. Addressing the program, the minister stressed the need to promote the production and consumption of coarse grains. He said that the demand for coarse grains is increasing globally and this will help India to become the largest producer.
Chaudhary said that increasing demand for coarse grains at the domestic and foreign level would help farmers, especially small farmers, to increase their income. Choudhary highlighted the many health benefits of millets and stressed on promoting the consumption of this ‘superfood’ for better health. He said that the government is making efforts to create awareness about millets. He appreciated the initiative taken by ITC to promote the production and consumption of millets.
The minister also mentioned about the various steps taken by the Narendra Modi-led government in the last nine years to boost the growth of the agriculture sector, such as PM-KISAN scheme and almost 5-6 times increase in the agriculture budget. He said that in the last nine years, the initiatives of the government have helped in increasing the income of the farmers. Chaudhary said that there is a need to provide latest technology to the farmers. He said that the government is giving subsidy to promote the use of drones in the agriculture sector.
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Tags: finance ministry, inflation, Tomato crosses Rs 80
FIRST PUBLISHED : July 25, 2023, 23:26 IST