GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA

UNSTARREDQUESTION NO: 1441

ANSWERED ON: 09.08.2011

PRICES OF FOOD ITEMS 

(a) whether the prices of food items are likely to stabilisedecline after the arrival of the new Rabi crop; and   

(b) if so, the details thereof and reaction of the Government thereto?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K. V. THOMAS) 

 (a) & (b): Price of food items are generally affected by a number of factors such as increase in income and improvement in living standards, productivity, increase in MSP, hardening of international prices, weather and seasonal factors. Market epectations and sentiments also have an impact on the prices. There can be no specific time frame which can be set when the prices of food items are likely to stabilise. The general epectation is that arrival of the new rabi crop will further soften the domestic prices.