India food inflation, which is currently hovering around 12.63%, would come down in the coming weeks, food and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said on Friday, hoping that good monsoons and increase in acreage would aid foodgrain production in 2010-11.

Foodgrain production dropped by 7% in the 2009-10 crop year (July-June) to 218.19 million tonne from a record 234.47 million tonne in the previous year because of a severe drought that hit almost half of the country.

?The way sowing operation is undergoing and reports of good monsoon from the states, we are likely to have a bumper crop (production) this year,? Pawar said on the sidelines of a sugar conference here.

Earlier this week, the minister had said that area under kharif crops such as paddy, oilseeds and pulses is expected to be higher this crop year via-a-vis the preceding two years.

The likely bumper production will help contain food inflation, as well as overall inflation, which is currently ruling above 10%.

Pawar said food inflation has started coming down substantially, giving relief to consumers. The falling trend in prices will continue in the coming weeks, he predicted.

Asked about the impact of floods on crops in Punjab and Haryana, Pawar said: ?I have talked to concerned states. There is a problem, but in limited areas. I will get a detailed report in a day or two. I don?t think the situation is that serious.?

Punjab and Haryana are the two leading foodgrain producers in the country.

Rains hit vegetable supply

Monsoon showers may have brought cheers to farmers but has created problem for consumers as rains have disrupted supply of fruits and vegetables,resulting in steep increase in their prices, particularly tomatoes.

?Heavy rains in North India, especially in Punjab, have disrupted the arrival of vegetables. Many trucks are stranded on way to Delhi in Haryana,? Association of vegetable traders in Azadpur Mandi secretary Bhajan Singh said.

He said heavy rains had flooded the roads in Haryana and also damaged vegetable crops in many areas, leading to an steep increase in the prices of vegetables in the last 4-5 days.

According to the available information, prices of ladies? fingers, capsicum, bottle gourd and other vegetables had gone up by around 45% in the last four days. Also, during the last five days, prices of tomatoes have jumped by threefold. Singh said maximum price increase has been witnessed in case of tomatoes, which is now being sold at a price ranging between Rs 30 and 35 a kg at Azadpur wholesale market.