As per the area and production of horticulture crops for 2018-19 (3rd Advance Estimates) brought out by Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare; Potato, Onion and Tomato together accounted for about 52% of total vegetable production in 2018-19.
Government takes various measures from time to time to stabilize prices of essential food items including vegetables which, inter-alia, include appropriately utilizing trade and fiscal policy instruments like import duty, Minimum Export Price, export restrictions, imposition of stock limits and advising States for effective action against hoarders < black marketers etc. to regulate domestic availability and moderate prices. Besides, Government is also implementing Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) to help moderate the volatility in prices of agri-horticultural commodities like onion and potato. Government banned export of onions and imposed stock limits on traders under Essential Commodities Act on 29.09.19. Government also imported onions for augmenting availability and moderating its prices.
