Pulses imports to get relief from storage controls

The Centre will soon issue a new directive whereby imported pulses will not have any stock limit but the importers will have to dispose of the stock within a stipulated time limit. Besides, importers will have to maintain a register with a special mention of inflows and outflows of imported pulses.

This move will help them get the imported stock cleared from the port and allow them to sell in the open market. The move is aimed at keeping escalating pulses prices on moderate level.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told Business Standard, '' During the discussion with the state government, the Centre has conveyed that import of pulses will be allowed and there won't be any stock limit. However, the importers will have to maintain special register and clear the imported stock within specified time limit.''

With several pulses, especially tur dal and urad trading at very high prices, following sharp fall in their crops, ten days ago government of India had imposed stringent stock limits on pulses trade including importers and warehouses recognised by commodity exchanges also. Soon after imposition of stock limits, importers had opposed the limits saying that that will not allow them to even clear stock that has already been imported and lying at the ports.

At Bombay port alone, 2.5 lakh tonnes of various pulses are lying uncleared. For delivery till December importers have contracted 2.5 million tonnes pulses and stock limits would have hampered those imports. "If relief to importers from stock limit is not goven the move to impose limit itself could have boomeranged," importers had conveyed to the union finance minister last week.

Further, Fadnavis said huge quantity of pulses, which had been seized from hoarders across the state, will be sold in the market within a week. "This will help further reduce the tur dal prices in particular. The wholesalers have brought to the government's notice that they have reduced the tur dal price but the further action is required from retailers. This will help reduce tur dal prices to Rs 125-130 per kg," he said.

Stock limits relaxed for oilseeds

Meanwhile the state government yesterday issued a notification relaxing stock limits for oilseeds. The relaxation allows traders to store almost ten times more seeds. The notification issued by the Maharashtra's food civil supply and consumer protection department says that "storage limits on edible oilseeds including groundnut in shell have been relaxed".

For wholesalers in corporation area it has been increased from 2,000 quintals to 20,000 quintals, while for retailers from 200 quintals to 2,000 quintals and for other areas for wholesalers from the existing 800 quintals to 8,000 quintals and for retailers from 100 quintals to 2,000 quintals.

This has been done to support farmers and processors of seeds.