Lok Sabha Question No. 1399 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-20
Subject: Increase in Price of Moong and Urad
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Sunil Dattatray Tatkare

## Government of India

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1399

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.09.2020

## INCREASE IN PRICE OF MOONG AND URAD

## 1399.   SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

## 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 Government is aware that in April, 2020, the retail prices of Moong and Urad increased by 25% and 11% compared to their five-year monthly average prices;
- (b) if  so,  whether  this  surge  in  price  is  directly  related  to  restrictions  of  import  of  only  1.5  tons  of Moong shipped from Myanmar during stringent lockdown measures; and
- (c) whether the Government envisages price support scheme and/or price stabilisation fund to control the prices of pulses, in view of COVID-19 pandemic and recent policy changes namely the removal of  pulses  from  the  essential  commodities  bracket  and  market  reforms  related  to  barrier-free  trade outside  the  notified  Agricultural  Produce  Market  Committee  yards  that  are  already  adding  to  the volatile pulses market and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh nkuos jkolkgsc nknkjko½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI DANVE RAOSAHEB DADARAO)

- (a) & (b)  : The  retail  prices  of  Moong  and  Urad  in  April  2020  increased  by  26.75%  and  7.25% respectively as compared to their five-year monthly average prices. Prices are inter-alia affected by mismatch in  demand  and  supply,  shortfall  in  production  owing  to  adverse  weather  conditions,  seasonality,  increased transportation  costs,  supply  chain  constraints  like  lack  of  storage  facilities,  artificial  shortage  created  by hoarding and black marketing, etc.
- (c) : Government has taken various measures from time to time to stabilize prices of pulses which, inter-alia, include appropriately utilizing trade and fiscal policy instruments to suit domestic requirement and moderate  prices.  Further,  calibrated  releases  from  buffer  stock  of  pulses  through  supply  to  States/UTs  for utilization  under  their  welfare  schemes  and  open  market  sales  are  anticipated  to  moderate  pulses  price volatility  and  discourage hoarding and unscrupulous speculation that may arise on account of mismatch of demand and supply. States/UTs are also encouraged to undertake retail supply of pulses through fair price shops  of  PDS  and  their  other  marketing/retailing  outlets.  As  part  of  Economic  response  to  Covid-19, foodgrains are distributed at the rate of 5 kg per person per month, and pulses are distributed at the rate of 1 kg per household per month , free of cost, to all beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana  (PMGKAY) for the period of eight months from April to November 2020. In addition, foodgrains at the rate of 5 kg per person per month, and pulses at the rate of 1 kg per household are distributed, free of cost, to migrant workers who are not covered under NFSA for the period of two months, from April and May 2020. Distribution of foodgrains and pulses under PMGKAY and ANB have contributed to ensuring the availability of food items during lockdown and in controlling food inflation.

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