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New Delhi, May 11, 2008 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- As government continues to grapple with inflation, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said the prices of foodgrains have increased marginally in India as compared to price rise in other countries.

"While the cost of wheat in the international market has risen by over 100 per cent in the last one year, in India wheat prices have risen by only seven per cent in the same period," he said while addressing the NCP National Committee Meet.

A glance at the international rice prices shows a 120 per cent increase over the last one year whereas the Indian market has seen an increase of only 17 per cent, Pawar, who is the NCP President, said.

"Being a part of the global economy, it is but natural that the world market will have an impact on the domestic price line," he said, adding that the government's "proactive" policies have been able to insulate the Indian market to a great extent.

Pawar sought to attribute the hike in foodgrain costs to the rising petroleum prices and increasing cost of farming.

He said the UPA government's farmer friendly policies have led to a record foodgrain production of 227.32 million tonnes as against the 213.19 million tonnes during the NDA rule between 1998 and 2004.

Pawar said the government has already procured 185 lakh tonnes of wheat, double than what was bought from the farmers during the same period last year.

"There is no need to import wheat as the country's granaries are full," he said.

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