Cold-chain mechanism to ensure supply of fruit, vegetables

Faced with challenges of a sudden spurt in the prices of agricultural products like onion, the government today said it was planning a cold-chain mechanism to move vegetables and fruit in areas where there is short supply.

Stating he was no “magician” to predict when onion prices would cool, Minister of State for Food K V Thomas said the planned cold-chain mechanism for such food essentials were aimed at tackling situations like the current steep rise in the prices of the kitchen staple due to short supply.

“The government is holding meetings to putting in place a comprehensive cold-chain mechanism for storing fruit and vegetables,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the National Consumers Day function.

The minister blamed market forces for “sharp fluctuations” in onion prices in some parts of the country.

Onion prices, ruling at Rs 10-15 in Delhi on December 1, rose to around Rs 35 a kg till December 15-16 and suddenly to Rs 70-80 a kg since Saturday,” he said.

Similarly, prices in Chennai, Coimbatore and some other parts of the country showed sharp variation in December itself, he added.