According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, no report of black marketing of tomato, onions and potatoes have been received so far
Prices of vegetables are determined by the normal market forces of demand and supply as well as production/harvest season. This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.
The prices of vegetables are also influenced by other factors such as disruptions in the supply chain, functioning of mandis, rainfall, labour, transportation etc. The Government is implementing a market information system where the prices of vegetables are collected through the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis and disseminated for its use by the farmers through the Agmarknet portal, mobile applications etc. for better price realisation.
The Government is implementing the scheme of ‘Operation Greens’ for integrated development of Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) value chain since 2018-19 to give a fair price to the farmers for green vegetables. The major objectives of the scheme inter alia include enhancing value realisation of TOP farmers; Price stabilisation for producers and consumers; reduction in post-harvest losses; increase in food processing capacities and value addition in TOP value chain by creating firm linkages with production clusters.
Further, the government has extended the short term price stabilisation measures from TOP to another 41 notified crops-fruits and vegetables w.e.f June 11, 2020. As of July 19, 2021, at a total subsidy of Rs 47.66 crore has been released as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan under the Operation Greens scheme.
No report of black marketing of onions and tomato have been received from the States/UTs. State governments as well as the Central government continue to exercise powers under the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980 for preventing such practices.
