Lok Sabha Question No. 2059 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-14
Subject: Shortage of Pulses
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2059

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2017

## SHORTAGE OF PULSES

2059.  DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO: SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL: SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

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

- (a) whether there is a shortage of pulses in the country because production continues to be lower than the estimated demand, if so, the per year estimated demand of pulses and the extent to which the production is short of the demand;
- (b) whether  the  Union  Government  has  hired  a  consultant  to  advise  it  on  engaging  a  professional agency for efficient management of buffer stock of pulses that is being created for use in times of price rise and if so, the reasons for engaging private consultant and progress made in the matter;
- (c) whether the Union Government has fixed target of 20 lakh tonnes buffer stock of pulses and if so, the details of the buffer stock of pulses built so far; and
- (d) whether the  Union  Government has imported pulses to create buffer stock and if so,  the  price difference between imported pulses and purchase from the domestic growers, pulse-wise?

## 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) :        As  per the Working Group Report on Foodgrains-Balancing Demand & Supply During 12 th FYP of Niti Aayog (erstwhile Planning Commission), the projected demand for pulses during 2016-17 is estimated  to  be  around  24.61  million  tonnes  while  the  estimated  production  of  pulses  (2 nd Advance Estimates  of  Production  of  Foodgrains,  2016-17)  is  22.14  million  tonnes,  thereby  implying  higher demand than domestic production.
- (b) :   Government has approved engaging a professional Buffer Stock Management Agency (BSMA) for efficient management of the buffer stock including procurement, storage, maintenance and liquidation of the stock as per Government directives from time to time. The agency for designing and managing the bid process has been selected. Contract for appointment is being finalized.
- (c) :    The  Government  has  approved  creation  of  buffer  upto  20  lakh  tonnes  of  pulses.  As  on 08.03.2017, around 14.66 lakh tonnes of pulses have been procured or contracted for imports towards building the buffer.
- (d) :   Government has contracted imports of 4.06 lakh tonnes of pulses towards building the buffer stock. The prices of pulses fluctuates daily as well as over season. While approving the bid for imports, Price  Stabilization  Fund  Management  Committee  (PSFMC)  ,inter  alia,    compares  offer  rate  with prevailing domestic rate and bids are generally approved for import when the rate offered are lower than prevailing domestic prices of that pulses.

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