Potato prices up 92% and onion prices 44% in a year

In the last one year, a significant increase in the retail prices of most of the essential commodities except wheat has been recorded.

According to the report of English newspaper Times of India , while potato prices have increased by 92% in the last one year, onion prices have increased by 44%.

High food inflation has emerged as a major concern for economic policy, but experts believe that this increase is temporary and that prices will come down when there is more supply.

A comparative analysis has been done in the data released by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, according to which the average wholesale price of onion has increased by 108%.

According to the ministry, onion prices have risen from Rs 1,739 per quintal to Rs 3,633 per quintal in a year.

If compared to the previous year, the wholesale price of onions on Saturday was Rs 5,645 per quintal, whereas about a year ago this price was Rs 1,739 per quintal

Due to the expensive food items, the problem of the policy makers along with the general public has increased. Expert opinion has also come out about this inflation. 

He believes that this inflation is temporary and it will improve as soon as the supply improves. Looking at the figures, it is found that the prices of vegetables, meat, fish and pulses are showing inflation especially these days.

"There is a difference between potatoes and onions. There were enough indicators that the availability of onion.

 was more and the prices were being pushed artificially. But in the case of potatoes, there has been reduction in the harvest and during the lockdown there was increased stock and consumption of potatoes. The government will consider several options to deal with the situation," said an official.

Potato harvest has decreased this year as compare to last year. In UP the total harvest was around 12.4 million tonnes compared to 15.5 million tonnes in 2019.