Govt taking steps to meet expected shortfall in pulses: Paswan

Pulses production in the country is expected to be only tad higher than last year and measures are being taken to meet the demand through imports, Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said today.
"... This year our production may be some more, but I think that it will remain like last year... 172 lakh tonnes, may be 175 lakh tonnes, but our demand will be around 235 lakh tonnes," Paswan said.
The added that "... Unless our production is increased the problem we have to solve only through import system."
Paswan was addressing the consultation meeting of the southern region organised by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, aimed at enhancing the consumer advocacy efforts and issues related to consumer affairs.

Stating that the government is already planning for imports to address the shortage, Paswan said, "We have asked the Commerce department that as early as possible permissions be given for imports."
"We have also started buffer stocks for the pulses in some states that I have visited like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, FCI is purchasing the pulses."

Pointing out that pulses is the "only item" whose prices are going up, Paswan said the rise in prices is due to the demand-supply mismatch.
He said the "reason behind it is, in 2013-14 our production was 192 lakh tonnes, this year it was 172 lakh tonnes so there was 20 lakh tonnes shortage in production; and our demand is 226 lakh tonnes."

"... We have imported 45 lakh tonnes, it was 11 lakh tonnes gap," he added.
Paswan also noted that addressing the problem of shortage of pulses is the responsibility of his department along with Agriculture and Commerce departments, and it needs to be tackled collectively.
He said recent analysis shows that prices of pulses have come down and those of all other food products were also decreasing.
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Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel released the standards on fortification and also launched a logo, which can be used by food business operators engaged in manufacturing of fortified foods.

The fortification of food does not alter characteristic of food and its "safe and cost effective", she said, adding that the standards developed by the FSSAI on food fortification would go a long way in meeting nutritional security.
"Over 70 per cent of the Indian population still consumes less than 50 per cent of the recommended dietary allowance and micronutrients," Patel said.
FSSAI Chairperson Ashish Bahuguna said its a "great shame" that the country has not been able to manage hidden hunger or malnutrition, which has an adverse affect on people health.
He said food fortification is one of the means to address micronutrient deficiency.

Bahuguna hoped that the government and corporates would take advantage of these standards to promote fortification.
FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal said: "The draft standards have been operationalised with immediate effect. These standards coupled with logo would become a rallying point for the government and corporates to take this initiative forward in an accelerated manner".
World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director Hammed Nuru said that the globah hunger index ranked India 97th out of 118 countries when it comes to hunger/malnutrition.
Pitching for fortification, he said the government, non- governmental agencies and private sector have crucial role to play in this.

"Estimates suggest that the cost to the global economy caused by malnutrition can account for as much as 5 per cent of global gross domestic product, equivalent to USD 3.5 trillion per year or USD 500 per person. Given fortification's well established dividend of USD 30 saved for every single dollar invested, it is not just right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do," Nuru said.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Soumya Swaminathan said there is a need for comprehensive health and nutritional survey every five year.