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Paswan assures to check food inflation, curb hoarding

| | Jul 05, 2014, at 02:10 am
#Ram Vilas Paswan assures to check food inflation # curb hoarding
New Delhi, July 4 (IBNS): Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan on Friday said checking food inflation has become a priority agenda for the government.
He said that there is need to put in place a preventive strategy to minimise the adverse impact of various factors including late monsoon on the prices and availability of essential food items. 
 
“We have to be well prepared with an advance co-ordinated strategy in collaboration with all the State Governments”, he said while addressing the State Food Ministers Conference here.
 
Expressing concern over reported hoarding, Paswan said that tough action is required by the states against those indulging in illegal hoarding and black marketing. Setting up of fast track courts for handling cases of hoarding and black marketing should be considered. 
 
"While improving agricultural productivity is crucial for increasing the overall availability of essential food items, removal of any restrictions on their free movement to the final consumer are equally important for checking any undue speculative activities leading to hike in prices. This is a battle which has to be fought jointly by the Centre and the State Government and with a strong will and commitment if we have to ensure both availability and price stability," he said. 
 
Paswan said within short period the government has been able to take a number of anti-inflationary initiatives like raising the Minimum Export Price (MEP) for Onion and Potatoes, release of additional stocks of Rice through the Public Distribution System (PDS), ensuring only marginal increase in procurement prices this year, etc. 
 
The implementation of the National Food Security Act which covers 75 per cent of the rural and 50 per cent of the urban poor for receiving highly subsidised food grains may also be one of the anti inflationary initiatives. He requested the states to implement the Act at the earliest. 
 
Delivering his address Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said that artificial shortage created by hoarders is responsible for increase in prices of some of the food items. There is need to improve supply chains and storage facilities for smooth supply of perishable commodities such fruits and vegetables. 
 
He asserted that there is urgent need for market integration, improved market infrastructure and better market information. 
 
He underlined that there has been continuous increase in agriculture production so there be no reason for recent increase in prices of these commodities.
 
Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Raosaheb Dadarao Danve also asked the states to work proactively to check price increase of food items. 
 
Earlier in the day, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said all state governments should use their full powers to rein in the hoarders and black marketeers who take advantage of the monsoon forecasts. 
 
"The media reports that perhaps this year monsoon will be below average will be used by hoarders. I urge all the governments to use their full strength to keep price rise at check," said Jaitley addressing the food ministers of various states here.  
 
Jaitley said in anticipation the states and centre should act instead of waiting for the prices of food to rise. 
 
"The recent rise in prices in onions, potato, rice, milk, etc. has been witnessed. We have taken some measures too. APL, BPL families will get  50 lakh tonnes of  rice," he said.
 
He said  onions and potatoes were brought under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and the states can set limits of their stocking. 
 
The FM said there was no panic situation but some are taking advantages and they should be strongly dealt with. 
 
The conference of the State Food & Consumer Affairs Ministers is being attended by more than 25 states governments and senior officials of various central ministries. 
 

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