Worst is over, food prices coming down, says Pawar

New Delhi, May 13 (PTI) Indian Food and Agriculture
Minister Sharad Pawar Thursday said the worst on food
inflation front is over and the prices have started coming
down, and would ease further in the coming weeks.

"By and large, prices are showing declining trend over
the last three months...I am confident that the worst is over.
Indian consumers and farmers should look forward for better
times in future," Pawar told reporters at the Indian Women's
Press Corps here.
Food inflation on Thursday increased by 0.40 to 16.44 per
cent for the week ended May 1.
"I expect inflation based on Consumer Price Index -
Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) to decline rapidly as the price of
the food items is now declining," Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee had said on Wednesday.
Pawar also admitted that it was a big challenge to
balance the interest of farmers and consumers.
"It has always been my interest to balance the interest
of farmers and those of consumers. I don't have hesitation to
admit that it is an extremely challenging task," he said.
Explaining the reasons behind the price rise, the
minister noted that steep hike in the minimum support price
(MSP) of foodgrains has driven prices to some extent.
Besides, the opening of the economy and integration with
the global market also has direct and indirect impact on
prices of essential commodities, he added.
When asked about the progress in the proposed Food
Security Bill, Pawar said, "The Planning Commission has been
empowered to give viable framework for the Act and its
suggestion will soon be discussed in the Empowered Group of
Ministers (EGoM)."
"After we get the exact number of families to be covered
under the Act, it will take 8-10 months to implement," the
minister said, adding that the government would reform the
Publish Distribution System and ensure food security.
Pawar also ruled out that the there is a delay in
implementation of the proposed Food Law because of likely rise
in food subsidy.
"My worry is about the availability of foodgrains and not
how much it will cost to the exchequer," he said, noting that
selection of number of BPL families is crucial for enacting
the proposed law.
On rising number of farmers' suicide in the country,
Pawar said the percentage of farmers in the total number of
suicides is consistent in the last 40-50 years.
"Suicides are not restricted to one section of the
society. If you study the report of crimes published by the
Home Ministry, there is a mention that about 1.50 lakh farmers
have committed suicide. And the percentage of farmers in total
number of suicides is consistent in last 40-50 years," he
said. PTI LUX
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