Pulses buffer stock News

Last week, the cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) gave approval for distributing a part of the pulses buffer stock to central schemes like Midday Meal and other state-run agencies besides state governments.

Around 2 lakh tonnes of pulses will be given for consumption under various central welfare schemes like midday meal programme, for which a cabinet nod will be taken soon, he added.

 Trying out all possible ways to control pulse prices that have neared Rs 200 per kg, the Centre today decided to set up a committee to relook at the minimum support price and bonus to promote pulse cultivation.

Prices of pulses inched close to Rs 200/kg Thursday even as the Centre has decided to increase the buffer stock by over five times to 8 lakh tonnes for retail sale at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 120/kg.

After procuring 50,000 tonnes of pulses for buffer stock, Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Tuesday asked the states to place their requirement so that the lentils can be offloaded in the market to check prices.

Stating that pulses supply remain a "challenge", Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday said the government is in import mode and has procured over 15,000 tonnes of pulses so far from farmers to create a buffer stock.  

Indian government is planning to create a buffer stock of 3.5 lakh tonnes of pulses during the current 2015-16 crop year through domestic purchase or imports to check high pulses prices.

The Government on Friday said it will buy 40,000 tonnes of pulses from farmers to create a buffer stock for controlling the prices,

The government will purchase 30,000 tonnes of tur dal and 10,000 tonnes of urad dal from farmers at market rates.