Letters: Crying over onion

This refers to the editorial “The inflation onion” (December 27). Though it cannot be denied that a sudden spurt in vegetable prices is largely due to a rising demand for vegetables in winter, the fact remains that the authorities have not been able to address the issue. A lack of foresight on the government’s part has given middlemen an opportunity to exploit the situation.

Some factors that may have contributed to the price rise are:

• With big traders exploiting the situation, hoarding remains the “decider”. Unless this is checked, prices will continue to rise.
• There is an absence of a “back-up” crop.
• Exports should have been stopped much earlier. The export and import policy needs to be reviewed.
• There is a lack of infrastructure and the distribution system is faulty.
• Non-movement of the commodity from the surplus to the deficit area.
• Had the media observed restraint in predicting a price rise, the creation of artificial scarcity and panic buying could be avoided to some extent.
• Prices cannot gallop without the blessings of the powers that be. The government should, therefore, be proactive in controlling the rise in prices of essential commodities.

Prem K Menon, Mumbai