Vegetable prices rose due to lower farm production owing to severe drought followed by heavy rainfall in various parts of the country and poor infrastructure, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
"The prices of vegetables have registered an increase on account of lower production due to deficiency in monsoon rainfall, damage due to heavy rains, damage due to blight disease, including inadequate supply chain which is regulated by state governments and infrastructure," Minister of State for Agriculture K V Thomas said in a written reply.
To address the various kinds of challenges, including price rise, over Rs 6,000 crore has been provided to states under major Central schemes during 2009-10, he added.
The state governments, he said, have been asked to carry out reforms, amendment in Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Act and investment more in creating market infrastructure through National Horticulture Mission, Technology Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture in North Eastern States, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttrakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
To benefit consumer with easier access to agricultural produce at lower price and to benefit farmers with better market facilities, states has also been asked to strengthen market infrastructure, standardisation and grading, provide with capital subsidy for construction and renovation of rural godowns, Thomas said.