Increase of Food Prices in India

The way food prices are soaring high, it seems that very soon we have to buy commodities at record prices. Already we are purchasing vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, onions, cauliflower, cabbage, you name it at higher rates and there is no prediction from the government of their prices going down. The price of pulses and grains are also much higher than what they used to be.

Number of factors to be blamed for increase in food price:

1. Shortage in demand and supply: pulses are falling short of about 4 million tons this year.
2. Scarcity of rainfall: the late coming of monsoon is held responsible for the price rise.
3. Cheating temperament of local vegetable vendors

Never before have I seen such a condition of the food market which I am forced to see now. Everyday the prices of vegetables, fish and meat are rising like anything. I remember the price of potato rose to Rs. 10 a few years back, when I was doing my graduation. My father was angry as to how can the price of such a humble vegetable like potato increase from Rs 5 or 6 to Rs. 10. But now he has nothing to say.

It’s almost clear that the way the prices of daily commodities are going up, I will not be amazed if I get to see the price of potato rise to Rs 30 per kg and that of onions increased to Rs. 50 per kg. God save us from this drastic situation.

Although I understand that because of the late monsoon, planting of Kharif pulses got hampered and also it's not possible for the wholesale market to cope up with the demand that it’s facing from the buyers. But I still believe the situation which we are seeing now can be a bit different.

I don't know why but I seriously started thinking that somewhere something is really wrong. Keeping in mind all the causes that agricultural experts and government of India has cited in favour of low productivity, still I am forced to think that the current food market condition could have been better.

According to me, the vendors of retail market are in a way making the price go up. They are adding their profit over the already 'high' prices of daily goods knowing very well that whatever may be the price of pulses or grains, people are bound to buy them since no one on this earth can say, Ok I will stop purchasing food from the next day because of high price rate.

Food, water, shelter are such things which can never be compromised. You want it or not you have to get them at any cost. Thus what else can be done but to wait for the good time to come when we will again start getting our beloved vegetables, meat and such other necessary items at normal and not 'abnormal' price range, as it is today.