Centre arranging 150,000 tonnes of pulses for buffer

To ensure no flaring in the prices of pulses during the next festival season, the central government has made arrangements for 150,000 tonnes of buffer, including 38,500 tonnes of imports.

Of the contracted 38,500 tonnes of imports, 13,000 tonnes has arrived and another 6,000 tonnes should soon come in. Central agencies bought 51,000 tonnes from farmers during the kharif season and another 60,000 tonnes during the ongoing rabi harvest. Reviewing the prices of essential commodities, an inter-ministerial panel of secretaries took note of the earlier government decision to offload 6.5 million tonnes of wheat through open market sale in 2016-17.

The Centre is asking states to seek allocation of pulses from the buffer stock and sell at prices not exceeding Rs 120 a kg. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Telangana have been allocated some from the buffer stock on request. Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Telangana are reportedly further subsidising the price for consumers.

Tur (pigeon pea) and urad (black gram) are selling at Rs 165 a kg and Rs 185 a kg, respectively, in retail markets.

In Delhi, Kendriya Bhandar and Safal have been allocated to sell pulses through their outlets. So far, 635 quintals of tur and 245 quintals of urad have been sold by these agencies at Rs 120 a kg.

India is the world's largest producer of pulses but its demand outstrips production. The shortfall is met from imports. This was 5.5 million tonnes in 2015-16, largely through private traders. The output is estimated at 17.06 mt in the 2015-16 crop year  (July-June).

The review committee was informed that Food Corporation of India had 32 mt of wheat in stock, against the Public Distribution System requirement of 24 mt.  

Regarding onions, central agencies have procured 15,635 tonnes so far.