No direct role of Farm Min in cultivation of vegetables: Pawar

New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) In the eye of a storm oversoaring prices of vegetables like onions and tomatoes,Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said his ministry hadno direct role in cultivation of perishable items and wasmainly concerned with cereals and sugarcane.

"Union Agriculture ministry is concerned with productionof foodgrains like rice, wheat, sugarcane and pulses and doesnot have any direct role in cultivation of vegetables...

farmers themselves decide which crop to grow seeing the localconditions and which mandi to sell," he told reporters, here.

He, however, said onion prices have started coming downwith increase in arrival from from Bhavnagar in Gujaratand Nashik (in Maharashtra).

Despite the slide in wholesale rate of onion in Delhi''sAzadpur market, Asia''s biggest fruits