Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday assured that the rise in vegetable prices, though worrisome, was a temporary phenomenon.
The minister said the prices will cool down in the coming weeks
with improvement in supplies.
"In many states, transportation has affected because of excess rains. Supplies are not coming in time to mandis," Pawar said on the sidelines of an event in the national capital. "I am not worried about foodgrains. There is temporary situation about vegetable prices. That is definitely worrisome."
However,
the supply and price situation is likely to improve in the coming weeks, he added.
According to the data maintained by the Consumer Affairs Ministry, retail prices of tomato has almost doubled to Rs 60 per kg from Rs 18 per kg in last one month in Delhi.
Similarly, onion prices have also increased to Rs 31 per kg from Rs 19 per kg, while potato rates have risen marginally to Rs 22 per kg from Rs 18 per kg, the data showed.
A similar trend in prices was seen in other states.
With regard to onion, Pawar said that prices are under pressure as new crop from Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan is expected to hit markets only after three weeks.
Asked about the extent of damage of farm crops in Uttarkhand due to recent flash floods, Pawar said: "That information has not reached us yet. We have asked the state government to send the data. They said it will take time."
With inputs from PTI 
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