Govt to procure 350,000 tonnes of pulses to check price rise

In a bid to check spiralling prices of pulses, the government would procure 350,000 tonnes of pulses in the 2015-16 crop year, to create buffer stock, minister of state for agriculture Sanjeev Balyan said here on Tuesday. Procurement will be done through domestic purchases as well as imports. The move is aimed at preventing further price rise in pulses.  

Out of 350,000 tonnes, about 150,000 tonnes of tur and urad would be procured in the ongoing kharif marketing season, while 200,000 tonnes of chana and masoor will be bought in the rabi season.

Over a period of time, the government might scale up buffer stocks to 500,000 tonnes, a senior official said.

Last month, the Centre had announced it would create a buffer stock of lentils, which will be offloaded in the market if prices soar.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 42nd foundation day of Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, Balyan said the government would procure pulses to check prices and has already announced to create 40,000 tonnes buffer stock this year. “A proposal has also been moved that pulses should be completely purchased by the government. I hope it will be approved and in future there will be no crisis of pulses in the country,” said Balyan.

The minister added that there is a huge requirement of pulses and its production needs to be raised. Pulses production had fallen to 17.2 million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year owing to poor rains  against 19.25 million tonnes in the previous year.

In the last financial year, India imported four million tonnes and traders expect imports to cross five million tonnes this year.