The government today decided to import 10,000 tonnes of pulses for buffer stock and extend zero import duty on chickpeas and masoor till September 2016 as part of its steps to boost local supply and check prices.
The government will soon float tenders for 5,000 tonnes each of tur and urad dals.
These decisions were taken at a high-level committee meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, that reviewed prices of pulses and other essential commodities.
Earlier this week, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved creation of a buffer stock of pulses by procuring 1.5 lakh tonnes at market price and the stock would be used to check spurts in retail rates.
"It was observed that prices of most essential commodities are under control and even pulses and onions have been showing a declining trend. With coming of fresh Kharif crops, prices are likely to further moderate", an official statement said.
The Cabinet Secretary asked agencies like FCI, NAFED and SFAC to step up procurement of tur and urad dals to build the buffer stock.
"To further supplement and augment the buffer stock, it was also decided to start import of pulses and to float tenders for 5,000 tonnes of tur dal and another 5,000 tonnes for urad dal", the statement said.
MMTC had earlier imported 5,000 tonnes of tur for sale in the retail markets at subsidised price.
In the meeting, it was also decided to recommend further extension of zero import duty on chick peas and lentils (masoor) up to September 2016. The duties on other pulses have already been extended up to September next year.
"All these measures would enable further building of adequate buffer stock of pulses and also increase availability of pulses in the domestic market", the statement said.
The need for creating the buffer stock arose as retail prices have gone through the roof due to fall in domestic output by two million tonnes to 17.2 million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June).
According to the Consumer Affairs Ministry data, the maximum price of tur is currently ruling at Rs 178 per kg while the average price is Rs 160 per kg. The maximum price of urad dal is Rs 190 per kg while the average rate is Rs 120/kg.
India is the world's largest producer of pulses, but its domestic demand outstrips production. The shortfall is met from imports.
"According to the Agriculture Ministry's report, pulse
output is expected to go up to 20 million tonnes this year from 17 million tonnes. The gap in supply-demand will come down. Price would ease in the next 2-3 months," Paswan hoped.
To tame pulse prices, the Centre has taken several steps, including imposition of stock limits on traders to check hoarding and imports.
He added that except for chana, there has not been a rise in prices of other pulses over the last two months.
He singled out hoarding for sharp increase in chana prices. "The prices will come down to an extent what we have seen in sugar," Paswan added.
"The committee expressed concern over prices of chana dal and in spite of good production, prices are on the higher side. It was of the opinion that the state government should take strict action to ensure availability at reasonable prices."
The country is facing a shortage of 7.6 mt of pulses because domestic output stands at 17 mt while annual demand is estimated to be 24.6 mt. The deficit is met through imports.
Private imports are expected to take care of 5.8 mt, which means there will be a gap of 1.8 mt.
As per government data, retail urad dal price is ruling as high as Rs 198 per kg, tur at Rs 170, moong at Rs 130 and gram at Rs 110 today.
