Rising vegetable prices temporary phenomenon: Pawar

Terming rise in vegetable prices as worrisome, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said this is a temporary phenomenon and prices will cool down with improvement in supplies in the coming weeks.
Retail prices of key vegetables like tomato have risen sharply in the last one month due to excess rains in growing states. Tomato continues to remain costlier at Rs 60-80 per kg in most retail markets in the national capital.
"In many states, transportation has affected because of excess rains. Supplies are not coming in time to mandis," Pawar told reporters on the sidelines of ICAR Foundation Day.
"I am not worried about foodgrains. There is temporary situation about vegetable prices. That is definitely worrisome," he noted.

However, the supply and price situation is likely to improve in the coming weeks, he added.
With regard to onion, Pawar said that prices are under pressure as new crop from Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan is expected to hit markets only after three weeks.

According to the data maintained by the Consumer Affairs Ministry, retail prices of tomato has almost doubled to Rs 60 per kg from Rs 18 per kg in last one month in Delhi.
Similarly, onion prices have also increased to Rs 31 per kg from Rs 19 per kg, while potato rates have risen marginally to Rs 22 per kg from Rs 18 per kg, the data showed.

A similar trend in prices was seen in other states.
Asked about the extent of damage of farm crops in Uttarkhand due to recent flash floods, Pawar said: "That information has not reached us yet. We have asked the state government to send the data. They said it will take time.