According to Bery, the significant increase in support prices announced in the run-up to the April-May general elections also had an impact on the escalating food prices.

Talking about the tardy growth of India's agricultural sector, he said it would be a declining sector.

'We need not be sentimental about it. Our goal should be to raise farm incomes and see that farm produce is also growing,' Bery said.

'We have to see that the rural income goes up and agriculture is only a part of it.'