Lok Sabha Question No. 55 (STARRED), answered on 2017-12-19
Subject: Rise in Prices of Pulses
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: HARI MANJHI, P. KUMAR

## Government of India

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *55

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2017

## RISE IN PRICES OF PULSES

## *55. SHRI HARI MANJHI: SHRI P. KUMAR: (OIH)

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 the prices of pulses have reportedly risen artificially leading to knee jerk  reaction  by  the  Central  and  State  Governments  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether the Union Government is aware that artificial rise in prices of pulses was due to speculation and that pulse growers did not get remunerative price for their produce and if so, the remedial measures proposed to be taken by the  Government  to  ensure  that  pulse  growers  are  provided  remunerative price for their produce;
- (c) whether the Union Government plans to bridge the gap between wholesale and retail prices of pulses like Arhar, Urad, Chana, Moong dal, etc. in the lean seasons and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  there  is  any  emergency  planning  between  the  States  and  other agencies, which keep buffer stock to stabilize prices of pulses in future and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of contingency plan to import these pulses from abroad to control their prices along with the details of import of these pulses during the current fiscal year?

## ANSWER

miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h ¼Jh jke foykl ikloku½

## THE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)

(a) to (e) :     A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## ORIGINAL IN HINDI

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.*55  FOR  19.12.2017  REGARDING RISE IN PRICES OF PULSES.

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(a) & (b):  During November, 2017, the All-India Consumer Price Index for Pulses & Products fell by 23.53 percent, over the year. To facilitate remunerative prices to pulses  growers,  Government  procures  pulses  directly  from  farmers  at  Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) under Price Support Scheme, when prices are below MSP. In addition, procurement of pulses from the farmers may also be undertaken under the  Price  Stabilization  Fund  (PSF)  for  Central  buffer,  at  market  prices  or  MSP, whichever is higher.

(c)  to  (e):    Government  is  maintaining  a  dynamic  buffer  stock  of  upto  20  lakh tonnes  of  pulses  through  domestic  procurement  and  import,  for  effective  market intervention  to    stabilize  their  prices.  The  pulses  from  the  buffer  are  released  to State/UT Governments, Central Government Agencies and through strategic open market sale to manage prices, thereby helping to contain the gap between retail and wholesale prices.  Government of India has also entered into a five-year (2016-17 to 2020-21) Memorandum  of Understanding (MoU) with Government of Mozambique for promoting production and marketing of pulses. Under the MoU, Government  would  ensure  import  of  pre-committed  quantity  of  pulses  from Mozambique, either through Government or private channels. In addition, suitable and  prompt  amendments  are  made  in  the  trade  policy,  taking  cognizance  of domestic production and availability, to ensure appropriate import of pulses. In the current financial year, Government has not imported pulses for the buffer till date.

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