Bhopal, July 10: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has urged Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar to either prohibit or control futures trading in agriculture commodities till efficient physical markets are set up across the country.
“The role of futures trading in agriculture commodities need a re-look as price rise of food items persist,” Chouhan, in a letter told Pawar.
Food inflation stood at 12.92 percent for the week ended June 19, due to higher prices of essential commoties. As a result, the middle class and poor are suffering, he said.
The UPA government has become complacent to the increasing inequalities in the society, despite its slogan of inclusive growth, the letter said. “The Centre and states have to strengthen marketing infrastructure like warehouses, communications and transport to develop an efficient physical market,” Chouhan said in the letter that was released to the press today.
–Agencies