Government’s futile measures make kitchen market hot again

A DAY after Commerce Minister’s request to retailers and wholesalers to help the government prevent any price spiral ahead of Ramzan in April, the price of onion soared. Prices of other kitchen essentials, vegetables and fish also remain high, hitting consumers, especially those with limited income bracket. Wholesalers claimed the prices went up as rain affected the supply but consumers blamed the government for ineffective control over the market. Marginal people often go down the poverty line in terms of consumption for the price spiral and pose danger for socio-economic development.
Consumers wondered why vegetable prices were out of their reach even though it was winter. Vegetables are supposed to be cheaper now, but there is no sign that the prices will go down. Prices of many other cooking essentials along with vegetables have increased significantly than a year ago. In the meantime, spiraling onion prices keep worrying people. Currently, the onion prices largely depend on the supply of mulkata onion, a local variety. But its harvesting is now at the late stage. Following the meeting with businessmen on Thursday, the Commerce Minister said the government would import two lakh tonnes of onion soon to meet local demand and arrest any price spiral before the beginning of Ramzan in April.
Several impractical steps have been taken by the authorities concerned, including imposing fines through mobile courts for selling onions at high prices and supplying onion at reduced price from open truck, but nothing worked to prevent the abnormal situation. Besides, dependence for onion, spices and other kitchen essentials on single export source also puts the food security in danger. Despite the agricultural production increased multifold in the years, we are still far away to reach food security. The government must disband the syndicates in the kitchen market, though many of them are belong to the ruling party.