Professional pulses management agency: Govt hires consultant

Government has hired a consultant to advise it on engaging a professional agency for efficient management of buffer stock of pulses that is being created for use in times of price rise.
"We have hired a consultant to advise us on this. If we do it ourself, it will take time. The consultant will process and suggest us," Consumer Affairs Secretary Hem Pande told PTI.
"It could be a private or public agency. It could be a public-private enterprise. However, a final call on this issue will be taken by the Price Stabilisation Fund Management Committee," he said.
Against the target of 20 lakh tonnes pulses, the government has so far built a buffer stock of 10 lakh tonnes, procuring directly from domestic growers as well as through imports. The procurement is still going on.

As of now, three agencies -- FCI, Nafed and SFAC -- are empowered to buy pulses from farmers, while two trading agencies including MMTC engage in imports.
On government's plan to dispose of pulses from its buffer, Pande said it would be done gradually through different modes and knee jerk action will not be taken as many aspects like price and distribution issues need to be assessed.

At present, the central government has issued about 51,000 tonnes of pulses to states/union territories and other options are being looked at, Pande added.
There is a shortage of pulses in the country because production continues to be lower than the estimated demand of 23-24 million tonnes a year.

However this year, pulses output is projected to be a record 21 million tonnes on account of good monsoon and higher minimum support price and assured procurement system.
It may be noted retail prices of pulses came under pressure last year following drop in domestic output in the wake of drought. Prices had gone up to Rs 200 a kg last year and now the rates have cooled down.