The government has said that prices of major food items including food grains, sugar, onions and potatoes have started coming down and it is hopeful that with expectation of higher Rabi crop and easing of prices in international market, the situation will improve. Our correspondent reports that Even as food inflation continues to surge ahead , the government has pinned it hopes on the rabi crop production . Once the rabi crops start coming to market , they hope that it will ease the food prices .Data received from the states shows that wheat and pulses have been grown in more areas than last year and therefore higher yield is expected this time . Last tyear tyhe production of pulses as well sugar was down thought food grain production rose in 2009. Because of the huje gap between the demand and supply of pulses in India their prices have sky rocketed but with hopes of higher production of oulses , easing of Urad , Moong and Tur softening in the international market , the urad and Moong dal have come down by 75 and 150 dollars a tonne and indication that they may fall further , the government hopes that situation will be able to ease to some extent. . White sugar prices have also declined in the international market which is again good news for this will help bringing down the sugar prices. So while at present food inflation is close to 18 per cent , indications are that this may not last long