Price rise a concern but downward trend noticed: Pranab
Pranab Mukherjee today admitted that price rise has been a cause of concern for the Government but said a downward trend has been noticed during the past fortnight.
By PTI |
RANCHI: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today admitted that price rise has been a cause of concern for the Government but said a downward trend has been noticed during the past fortnight.
"There is no denial (that) certain essential commodities are having high prices...but fortunately for the last one-and-a-half weeks we have been noticing a downward trend, but it will take some more time," Mukherjee told reporters here.
Noting that prices of cereals, fruits and vegetables have been on the higher side, Mukherjee said if the shortage in supply was not made up through import or other measures, then the prices would go up.
"Take pulses for instance; the rate has been increased substantially. Our total requirement is 18 million tonne. Our total production is 14 MT, a huge shortfall of 4 MT.
"It has not been possible to bridge this gap through import because very few countries cultivate pulses. We are importing from some countries, but it is not adequate," he said.
Similar was the case with sugar, whose production is surplus once in every three years, he said.
"Unfortunately, it (shortfall in sugar) has happened at a time when the international production has also gone down while prices too remain high (there)," he said.
"There is no denial (that) certain essential commodities are having high prices...but fortunately for the last one-and-a-half weeks we have been noticing a downward trend, but it will take some more time," Mukherjee told reporters here.
Noting that prices of cereals, fruits and vegetables have been on the higher side, Mukherjee said if the shortage in supply was not made up through import or other measures, then the prices would go up.
"Take pulses for instance; the rate has been increased substantially. Our total requirement is 18 million tonne. Our total production is 14 MT, a huge shortfall of 4 MT.
"It has not been possible to bridge this gap through import because very few countries cultivate pulses. We are importing from some countries, but it is not adequate," he said.
Similar was the case with sugar, whose production is surplus once in every three years, he said.
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"Unfortunately, it (shortfall in sugar) has happened at a time when the international production has also gone down while prices too remain high (there)," he said.
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