Potato, onion prices ruled high in only 3-4 centres: Govt

The Government today said prices of onion and potato were high in just three-four of the total 64 centres across the country in the last three months.
Attributing the rise in the price of the kitchen staples in Aizwal, Thruvanathapuram and Kozhikode to the transportation
costs, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said cost of potato and onion was between Rs 13-38 per kg in all other centres.
Paswan was responding to a question involving "steep rise in the prices of potato and onion in retail markets of the country" during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha.

"As reported from 64 centres across the country, during the last three months (September-November, 2014), potato prices generally ranged between Rs 19-38 per kg in all centres except at Aizwal, Thruvanathapuram and Kozhikode and onion prices between Rs 13-38 per kg in all centres except at Aizwal, Dimapur, Ernakulum and Kozhikode," he said.
"The higher prices at the centres mentioned is mainly because they are non-producing areas and have to procure the supplies from other states," Paswan said.

Replying to a question on whether government has ordered imports of potato from international markets, the Minister answered in the negative.
To another question, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said as per the central statistics office estimates, the total of agriculture and allied sectors in terms of percentage of GDP was 13.9 per cent during 2013-14.

"As per Population Census, 2011, 54.6 per cent of the total workers are engaged in agricultural activities," he said.