The government has imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of $450 per tonne on potatoes. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has taken this step in order to ensure adequate availability of potatoes in case the domestic production suffers because of poor monsoon. The decision also comes a week after MEP of $300 per tonne was imposed on onion.
The above notification is part of steps announced last week by finance minister Arun Jaitley to tackle inflation. Potato wholesale inflation stood at 31.44% in May, taking the overall inflation to a five-month high of 6.01% during the month.
Besides, the centre had advised states to freely allow movement of fruit and vegetables by delisting those from the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act.