Bhubaneswar: Odisha Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain on Friday warned of an unreasonable hike in the prices of edible oil in the wake of the Russian invasion against Ukraine.
Accordingly, he has instructed departmental officials and all district collectors to curb not just the black marketing of the commodity but also to ensure an uninterrupted supply of edible oil.
Swain said that many countries are directly and indirectly affected by the current war situation and the situation may worsen in the coming days. The price of edible oil in the country, especially sunflower oil, is likely to rise unreasonably. Its impact on the market is beginning to be felt.
“We need to keep in mind that most of India’s demand for edible oil is through exports. About 80% of sunflower oil is imported from Ukraine and Russia alone. So its supply will definitely be affected and there is a possibility of price hike,” he added.
Swain advocated that the Central government should cut imports and other tariffs on edible oils at least temporarily. Otherwise, the rise in the price of edible oils along with the rise in the price of petrol, diesel, cooking gas, will be disastrous for the poor, the farmers, labourers, and even the middle class.
