Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has said speculation is one of the reasons for price rise of vegetables even as production has increased.<br/><br/>Talking to a news channel on Saturday, Mr. Paswan said that the production of onion, potato and tomato have all increased in the current year.<br/><br/>Noting that the consumption pattern has also not changed, the Minister blamed rumours for the increase in prices.<br/><br/>The Food Minister, however, said that production of pulses has declined.<br/><br/>Mr Paswan said a less than adequate monsoon during last 3 years has affected the production of pulses.<br/><br/>He added that the government has decided to import lentils from Myanmar and African nations and beef up the buffer stock to check the spike in rates.