Govt cannot stockpile vegetables, says Pawar

NEW DELHI: The government came under fresh fire on price rise in Lok Sabha on Tuesday with MPs criticizing the Centre for failing to protect farmer interests irrespective of whether retail rates were high or low. Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar found himself at the receiving end while Congress benches sat in an uncomfortable silence as opposition MPs argued that consumers were burdened with a rising kitchen budget and returns to farmers remained meagre.

Pawar's statement that wholesale onion prices had crashed to Rs 200 a quintal from a high of Rs 3,800 a quintal was seized upon by the opposition with MPs questioning how wholesale rates had moved in such a fashion in just 40 days. The government failed to cope with the crisis, they said.

The agriculture minister said the export ban on onions was lifted to help farmers get a good price but countered opposition arguments by saying the government could not stock vegetables the way it does rice, wheat and pulses.

Congress's Keshava Rao pitched in to ensure the anti-price rise sentiment did not remain the opposition's prerogative and demanded that farmers be extended credit at 3% interest. Pawar responded by saying he would be delighted to do so and indicated the appeal ought to be directed at the Congress leadership.

RJD's Raghuvansh Prasad set the tone with a skilful intervention where he prolonged a question by dwelling at length on the hardships caused by food inflation and took a dig at responses of ministers that have ranged from statements like "I am not an astrologer" and "We don't have an Aladdin's lamp."

Pawar insisted that the rise in prices of vegetables like onion had been "temporary" and said the government could not manage perishable produce directly from farmers. "There are certain limitations about perishable items... The government can not purchase and manage vegetables and fruits. Steps are being taken to enhance productivity of these items to keep their prices under check," he said.