Edible Oil: Will Prices Come Down During Festive Season?

New Delhi: Concerned about the rising prices of edible oils, the central Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) will meet officials of all states and union territories (UTs) on October 25 through video conferencing to review the action taken on stock limit order on prices.

DFPD secretary Sudhanshu Pandey has written to states and UTs outlining initiatives undertaken by the Centre to ease prices of edible oils, especially keeping the festive season in mind.

The DFPD has been monitoring the prices of edible oils and availability to consumers.

The central department, based on interaction with states, UTS and edible oil industry associations, has issued stock disclosure notification. It has also created a web portal to monitor stock of edible oils/oilseeds in the country on a weekly basis.

Stakeholders have been advised not to hold stocks in excess of two months of the storage capacity.

Prices have gone up by 50-60% in the last year and a half. A litre of mustard oil now costs around Rs 200, white one has to shell out Rs 160-170 for a litre of white edible oil.