Prices of edible oils are skyrocketing in Assam. Here's why.

GUWAHATI: Edible oil prices are skyrocketing in the market along with other essentials. The price of mustard oil has risen by almost Rs 50. Now a liter of mustard oil costs anywhere from Rs 160 to Rs 180.

But do you know why?

Not only mustard oil but also the prices of other edible oils like soyabean oil, rice bran, vegetable oil, plum oil are also touching record highs. This is primarily because due to decreasing rate of rainfall, the harvesting of oil-based crops is seeing a dip as well.

Besides, India is not self-reliant enough in terms of the production of edible oils. India is mostly dependent on the United States of America when it comes to edible oil, and import the same from the USA.

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In a report released by Economics Times, it had been revealed that the USA uses its soybean oil and plum oil in the production of biodiesel these days.

Apart from that, the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government removed edible oil from the essential commodities list under The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, which may cause further hikes.

Simultaneously, the long-running farmer's protest on the border of the National capital Delhi is also a contributing factor in this case.

"The price of edible oils increased from Rs. 30 to Rs. 50 in a year. Now that the new taxes are being imposed by the government, it will get increased further," explained a whole seller from Moran.

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