Hitting out at States for spiralling onion prices across the country, Commerce & Industry Minister Anand Sharma has said that high onion prices in the country were due to hoarding taking place locally and States should play a more proactive role to check it.
“We have been appealing to the States’ Agriculture Ministers, Finance Ministers and even the Prime Minister that the States must also be proactive. After all, it’s one country. The Centre cannot go into the States and check hoarding,” Sharma told reporters here on Wednesday.
Onions prices continue to rule high ranging between Rs 60-70 per kg in most retail markets although the prices have started falling marginally in the wholesale markets.
With fresh arrivals making their way into the market, prices would come down soon, Sharma said reflecting Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s optimisim.
The Commerce Minister said that the current shortage was due to hoarding taking place as onions were available in the country and not much was being exported.
“Onion is available. It’s not that exports are happening. We had imposed a Minimum Export Price first at $650 per tonne which has now been raised to $900. So, the Government is keeping a watchful eye,” he said.
Sharma said that onions were available in the mandis but a lot of hoarding was taking place. It is evident from the huge cap between the production mandis prices and the consumption mandis prices, he said, adding that the States have to look into it.