High procurement prices of foodgrains contributing to inflation: Finance Minister

18 Jul 2011 Evaluate

Increased prices of foodgrains are due to the increase in the procurement price. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) which the government fixes to ensure remunerative prices to farmers to encourage higher investment and production of agricultural commodities, have been increased substantially in past few years. Pranab Mukherjee said "Foodgrain prices have increased due to escalating procurement prices," however; he said the production of pulses has increased. He pointed out that high procurement prices of foodgrain were also contributing to inflation.

The MSP paid to farmers for wheat rose by 80 percent from Rs 650 in 2006-07 to Rs 1,170 in 2010-11, while that for paddy increased by 77 percent from Rs 610 to Rs 1,080 during the period. The government purchases one third of the total production of foodgrains and MSP plays a major role in determining the prices of food grains in the retails markets.  

With low production of foodgrains prices are tend to increase. Finance minister said, the central government is trying to rein in the food inflation. 'Prices of foodgrain increased due to low level of production. We need a total of 19 million tonnes of foodgrain, but our total production is 14 million tonnes. This time, the production of pulses has increased, he added.'

Finance Minister said the high procurement price of foodgrains was also contributing to the inflation. 'Earlier, procurement price of one quintal of paddy was Rs 600, now it is Rs 1, 100. The central government collects one third of the total foodgrain production. The procurement prices are determining the benchmark of market prices,' Finance minister said. 'We are trying to reduce food price inflation,' he added.

The headline inflation surged to 9.44 percent in June from 9.06 percent in May, because of increase in the prices of diesel and other petroleum products. However, food inflation on the monthly basis has been moderating, it stood at 8.38 percent in June, which was around 16.68 percent in the start of the 2011, and still it is well above the comfort level, which is bothering government and policy makers.  

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