Containing price rise in pulses and edible oils will remain a challenge unless domestic production of these two items is raised to meet the demand, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said today.

Farmers need to be encouraged and incentivised to grow pulses and oilseeds and make the country self-sufficient, he said.

“Currently, there is no price increase in wheat, rice and sugar. There is price rise in 2-3 items -- pulses and edible oils. Unless there is a permanent solution of increasing domestic production of these items, this problem (of price rise) will remain,” Paswan said at a press conference here organised to highlight one year achievement of the ministry.

As per official data, prices of pulses have increased by up to 64 per cent in the last one year.

India produces 18-19 million tonnes of pulses annually and has to import 3-4 million tonnes, while it buys about 10-12 million tonnes of vegetable oils from overseas markets.

To check price rise in vegetables, a price stabilisation fund has been established by the Agriculture Ministry, while efforts are also being made to set up a common national market, Paswan said.

That apart, the Consumer Affairs Ministry is working on bringing amendments to the Essential Commodities Act to take stringent action against hoarding of key essential items.

“The proposed amendments to the Act have been sent to the state governments. So far, 10-11 states have responded positively. The moment we get inputs from other states, we will move a cabinet note,” said G Gurucharan, Additional Secretary in the Consumer Affairs Ministry.

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