No delay in pulse import due to Bihar elections: Balyan

The Centre did not delay in importing pulses due to Bihar elections, Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Balyan today clarified.
He asserted that prices of lentils are expected to cool with arrival of kharif crop.
He was critical of the industry body Assocham for coming out with a study on prices of commodities like rice, sugar and pulses "without checking the ground reality".
Pulse prices have been ruling as high as Rs 180 per kg in the retail market across the country as their production slumped 2 million tonnes in the 2014-15 crop year on poor and untimely rains.

"There was no delay in the government's decision on pulse import due to recent Bihar elections. There were no lapses... There is domestic shortage and imports are being undertaken to boost supply," Balyan told reporters on the sidelines of an event on the World Fisheries Day.
He was replying to a query on whether the government delayed import of pulses as ministries concerned were busy in Bihar elections.

Balyan sought to clear the air further, saying mostly, the private sector imports pulses. But this year, the Centre purchased some quantity from overseas market to increase availability and check price rise.

The state-owned MMTC imported 5,000 tonnes of tur dal, which has been lifted by Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Odisha and Telangana governments.
Asked about Assocham's report talking about price increase in commodities like rice and sugar, Balyan said: "Assocham should check the ground reality before preparing the report."
Rice prices including basmati varieties have rather fallen. "If prices fall, what will farmers earn? We should also think about farmers," he said.
"The price rise in essential items impacts everyone.
Some price rise is valid. But nobody makes an issue when car prices double. If prices of essential items rise from Rs 10 to Rs 20 per kg, then there is hue and cry," Paswan said, urging the states to work as a team to address the challenge.

Keeping in view the pulse shortage, he said the government agencies should opt for long-term import contracts to boost buffer stock.
The state governments were also asked to set up cold storage facilities for pulses as the commodity has less shelf-life than rice and wheat.
On food law, Paswan said 33 states and Union Territories have rolled out the programme. The remaining three states are expected to implement by July.
The minister asked the states to implement end-to-end computerisation of PDS and link it to the 554 FCI depots, which will be made online by July, adding that this will check leakage of grains and ensure transparency in PDS.

He also pitched for decentralisation of procurement system in the remaining 10 states. The states were told to complete the seeding of aadhar number in ration cards.
Earlier, addressing the conference, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh called on states to increase productivity and production of pulses and oilseeds by utilising the funds under various central schemes like the National Food Security Mission.
He also asked states to co-operate in controlling prices of food items by taking proactive measures.
The government is aiming to double farmers' income which can be achieved if farmers get better irrigation facilities, fertilisers and market avenues.

Despite drought in 2015-16, foodgrains production is estimated to be slightly better than the previous year, he added.
The meeting was attended by over food ministers of 10 states and others were represented by food and consumer secretaries.