Over the past few weeks, a sudden increase in the price of several essential food items has adversely affected Indian consumers. Chilli and potato prices have doubled.
Analysts blame a fall in output caused by a decrease in crop area and unfavourable weather conditions for this price rise.
While February saw a fall in food inflation to 5.3% from 6.85% in January, it also brought retail inflation within RBI's target of 6%.
Potato farmers and traders say that prices have risen 50% in the last month because acreage fell in West Bengal and UP and also because late blight disease damaged a majority of the crop.
