Govt may import pulses to boost supplies, check price rise

The government today said it plans to import pulses through state-owned trading agencies, if required, to boost domestic supplies and check rising prices.
Retail prices of pulses have risen by up to 64 per cent in the last one year across the country. In the national capital, retail prices of tur, urad and moong have already crossed Rs 100/kg mark now, as against Rs 72-97/kg in a year-ago.
"Pulses is a burning issue...I want to assure that we will ensure adequate supplies to state governments from our own stocks. If required, we will import," Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said at a press conference organised to highlight one year achievement of his ministry.

Asked how much pulses stock the government has, the Minister did not divulge the details but said it would offload whatever stocks it has to fulfill states' demand.
Singh said the country is not self-sufficient in pulses and dependent on imports to meet shortages.
The Minister pointed out that the country's pulses production fell by 2 million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June), while imports rose to 4.5 million tonnes in the last fiscal from 3.4 million tonnes in the previous year.
He said the government has taken several steps to boost pulses production under the existing scheme and has also authorised coooperative firm NAFED and Small Farmers' Agriculture Business Consortium (SFAC) to procure pulses under the Price Stablisation Fund.

India produces 18-19 million tonnes of pulses annually but has to import 3-4 million tonnes to meet the domestic demand. Imports in the last two years were mainly via the private trade.