Lok Sabha Question No. 3520 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: Import of Yellow Peas
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: NANABHAU FALGUNRAO PATOLE

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Government of India Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3520

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2017

## IMPORT OF YELLOW PEAS

3520 (OIH) . SHRI NANA PATOLE:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk  ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that about 15 lakh tonnes of yellow peas have been imported to India during the last three months of the year 2016;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the data of yellow peas so imported during the same period of the year 2015;
- (c) whether the imported yellow peas which costs Rs. 25 per kilogram has contained the price-rise of pulses in the country but the profiteers/stakeholders are mixing these this yellow peas with Arhar pulse to make besan and selling it at the rate of Rs.100 per kilogram;
- (d) whether the Government is likely to take cognizance of mixing yellow peas with Arhar pulses and take action against the erring persons and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the pulses of all the varieties imported during the last three months of the year 2016?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) & (b) :  As per data available in Food Import Clearance System (FICS) of Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), during the last three months of 2016 (October to December), India imported 7.01 lakh tonnes of yellow peas and 4.50 lakh tonnes during the same period in 2015.
- (c)  &  (d)  :  The  fall  in  prices  of  pulses  over  the  year  is  mainly  on  account  of  bumper  domestic  production  of 22.40  million  tonnes  during  2016-17  as  compared  to  16.35  million  tonnes  in  2015-16  and  various  measures taken by the Government including creation of buffer stock of pulses, export ban with some exceptions and zero import duty with the exception of 10% duty on Tur.

As per the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, use of yellow peas in making of besan is not permitted. To curb any kind of adulteration in food products, regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products are being done by the Food Safety Departments  of  States/UTs  under  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Act,  2006.  Separate  data  with  respect  to enforcement activities vis-à-vis pulses is not maintained.

- (e) :  As per data available in Food Import Clearance System (FICS) of Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), India imported 13.21 lakh tonnes of pulses during the last three months of 2016. Variety-wise details are as below:-

| Product     | Qty. in tonnes   | Product         | Qty.in tonnes   |
|-------------|------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| Yellow Peas | 701103.08        | Tur Whole       | 241909.21       |
| Red Lentils | 197755.65        | Chick Peas      | 85438.58        |
| Black Mapte | 54266.86         | Black Eye Beans | 11536.23        |
| Tur dal     | 9157.04          | Cow Peas        | 7990.49         |
| Kidney Bean | 7811.06          | Faba Beans      | 4337.19         |
| Leema Beans |                  | 46.00           |                 |