Lok Sabha Question No. 2174 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-29
Subject: Buffer Stock of Pulses
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: George Baker

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2174

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH  November, 2016

## BUFFER STOCK OF PULSES

## 2174. SHRI GEORGE BAKER:

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

- (a) the  items  of  foodgrains  preserved  for  buffer  stock  in  the  country along  with their limits, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  planning/proposing  to  create  a  buffer stock of pulses in the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (d) the details of the funds earmarked for the said purpose during the last three years; and
- (e) the time by which the said buffer stocks are likely to be operational?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c): Government maintains foodgrains stocking norms (buffer norms) of rice and wheat for the Central Pool. The Actual stock of foodgrains in the Central Pool as against the foodgrains stocking norms for Central Pool are as under-

STOCK  POSITION  OF  WHEAT  AND  RICE  IN  THE  CENTRAL  POOL  VIS  A FOODGRAINS STOCKING NORMS(BUFFER NORMS)

( in lakh  tons)

| AS ON     | WHEAT        | WHEAT                     | R I C E      | R I C E                   | T O T A L    | T O T A L                 |
|-----------|--------------|---------------------------|--------------|---------------------------|--------------|---------------------------|
|           | Actual stock | Foodgrains Stocking norms | Actual stock | Foodgrains Stocking norms | Actual stock | Foodgrains Stocking norms |
|           | 237.88       | 138.00                    | 126.89       | 76.10                     | 364.77       | 214.10                    |
| 1.4.2016  | 145.38       | 74.60                     | 221.61       | 135.80                    | 366.99       | 210.40                    |
| 1.7.2016  | 301.81       | 275.80                    | 194.14       | 135.40                    | 495.95       | 411.20                    |
| 1.10.2016 | 213.28       | 205.20                    | 144.74       | 102.50                    | 358.02       | 307.70                    |

Government has also approved building a buffer stock of pulses up to 20 lakh tonnes through domestic procurement and import of 10 lakh tons each. The operational buffer of 6.38 lakh tonnes of pulses has been built through procurement and import contacts.

These  norms  are  maintained for the Central Pool without any Statewise bifurcation. No allocation towards 'buffer stock' is made to any of the States. However, in order to ensure smooth supply of foodgrains, stocks are moved from surplus State to deficient States.

## (d): Funds earmarked for the said purpose during the last three years are as under-

## (in Rs Crores)

| Commodity   |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |
|-------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Pulses      |      50   |       660 |      1400 |
| Foodgrains* |   91995.4 |    112000 |    103335 |

## (e): The buffer stock of foodgrains and pulses are already operational. ****