Independence Day: Bad monsoon to pose problems in taming inflation, says PM

NEW DELHI: Deficient monsoon will pose some difficulty in controlling inflation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said today.

"... we must control inflation. This would pose some difficulty because of a bad monsoon this year," Singh said in his Independence Day address.

However, he said that the government has huge wheat and rice stocks and foodgrain supply is not a problem.

Although inflation moderated to 6.87 per cent in July from 7.25 per cent in June, food inflation was still ruling above 10 per cent.

The price rise for food articles remain quite high affecting the budget of the common households. Prices of vegetables rose annually by 24 per cent, egg, meat and fish by 16 per cent and pulses by 28.26 per cent in July.

The Prime Minister said the government has taken measures to deal with the deficient rainfall.

"Our effort is to ensure that people do not face difficulty due to shortage of seeds, fodder or water in any part of the country. It is good that we have a big stock of foodgrains ... and availability of foodgrains is not a problem for us," he said.

Monsoon, the life-line of Indian agriculture, has been deficient by 16 per cent so far, affecting the sowing of Kharif crops, like paddy and coarse cereals. Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan are facing drought-like situation.

"...We have taken many measures to deal with the situation. In districts where there has been a deficit of 50 per cent or more in the rainfall, diesel subsidy is being provided to farmers by the government. Seed subsidy has been enhanced. Funds available under the central scheme for fodder have been increased," the Prime Minister said.