Threat of ‘El Nino’ ​​looms over inflation, rising prices of rice, sugar, pulses, vegetables increase tension – al nino is giving tension to governemt as price hike of rice, vegetable and food product

Anything can happen

Chairman of the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture, Dr. M.J. Khan says that El Nino is actually a seasonal phenomenon warming the Earth. Due to this, there will be less rain, drought can also come. There will be a change in the weather. In such a situation, there is every possibility of reducing the production of Kharif crops. Production of rice, sugar and pulses could be hit hard. So it is not easy to diagnose it. If we can reduce the gap between demand and supply, then definitely the prices can remain stable to a great extent. But this task is not that easy. You have to see how many sources you have to reduce this difference. How can you reduce it? The situation is definitely serious. Now it has to be seen how much El Nino affects agriculture.

compulsion of the government

Experts have already warned about the prices of sugar, rice and pulses. The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has already reduced the estimate of sugar production. ISMA has reduced the estimate of sugar production for 2022-23 from 34.0 million tonnes to 32.8 million tonnes. According to this, apart from India, the production of sugar has decreased in Thailand, China, Pakistan. On the other hand, experts say that due to the decrease in the production of sugar worldwide, its import can also become very expensive. In such a situation, if the demand for sugar in the country increases and the supply decreases, then the prices of sugar can increase. The situation regarding rice is also not good. There is a decrease in sowing and if the effect of El Nino is seen, then the possibility of increase in wholesale and retail prices of rice cannot be denied. Commodity market expert S. Of. Suresh says that if there is a disturbance in the monsoon movement due to the effect of El Nino, then the price of rice can increase. At present the average retail price of rice is Rs.40. Apart from this, if the production of seasonal vegetables decreases, then it can be guessed that what will be the situation.

Government alert on increasing hoarding of gram dal

To control the prices of pulses, the government has imposed stock limit on Arhar and Urad pulses. But now the hoarding of gram pulses has increased the problems of the government. According to sources, the government is now preparing to take strict action against those who hoard gram pulses. The government has started talks with the states in this regard. The government wants people to use this pulse more so that the pressure of consumption on other pulses is reduced. For this, the government will publicize the use of gram dal among the people. A senior officer said that at present the price of gram dal is running at Rs 75 to 80 per kg. There is no problem regarding its demand and availability in the market. By the way, the demand of gram is less than that of Arhar and Urad pulses. But the fear is that if the hoarding of gram dal increases, its price may also reach Rs 100 per kg. The government is worried about this. According to sources, after the implementation of stock limit on Arhar and Urad pulses, the wholesale traders have now started reaping more profit on gram pulses. Hoarding of gram has increased to reduce the supply.

States should disclose wheat stocks: Center

After imposing a stock limit on wheat, the central government on Tuesday directed the state governments to ensure compliance of the wheat stock limit order and to disclose the stock. According to the Centre, hoarding of wheat will stop and the supply of wheat will be done properly in the market. In a meeting with State Food Secretaries, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra asked the State Governments to disclose the stocks of wheat held by wholesalers/traders, retailers to check malpractices and bring transparency in the availability of wheat.

An official statement from the Food Ministry said that the government wants to prevent hoarding and speculation of food items. A user manual regarding stock submission has also been shared with the State Governments for ease of data filling on the portal of the Department of Food and Public Distribution (evegoils.nic.in). If the stock with them is more than the prescribed limit, they will have to bring it up to the prescribed stock limit within 30 days from the date of issue of this notification.