India has been better off in managing food inflation compared to several other developing countries in 2007-08, even as the government faces public and political anguish over sharp rise in prices. Prices of food articles rose by 5.8 percent in India, the lowest increase among 15 developing countries for the period ending February 2007-08, a joint report of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said. Food prices showed the highest increase at 25.6 percent in Sri Lanka, followed by Kenya at 24.6 percent and China 23.3 percent, the report entitled “Agriculture Outlook 2008” said. A record foodgrain production estimates at 227.32 million tons during 2007-08, against 217.28 million tons last year has helped India keep food inflation under control, experts said. However, recent negative yield shocks in key food commodities like pulses and oilseeds have contributed to the price increase, they said, adding that global price rise had a spillover affect on domestic rates as well. However, India's food inflation still remains higher than the developed countries like the US and Japan during the review period.
