Lok Sabha Question No. 1751 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-02
Subject: Import of Arhar Dal
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Asaduddin Owaisi, Imtiaz Jaleel Syed

## Government of India

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1751 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.07.2019

## IMPORT OF ARHAR DAL

## 1751.  SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI: SHRI SYED IMTIAZ JALEEL:

## 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  keeping  in  view  the  sharp  increase  in  prices  of  onion  and  Arhar  dal,  the Government has removed incentives for fresh export of onions and doubled the import of Arhar, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of present demand and supply gap of these items in the country; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  import  these  items  to  meet  domestic  demand  and other steps taken or being taken by the Government to restrict the prices of these items?

## 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- (a):  The  benefits  to  exporters  of  onions  under  Merchandise Exports from  India Scheme (MEIS) was  withdrawn  through  notification  dated  11.06.2019.  Government  has  decided  to  enhance  the import limit on Tur under Quantitative Restriction from 2 Lakh MT (LMT) to 4 LMT for the year 2019-20.
- (b): Details on total availability is at Annexure.
- (c):  As  on  date,  the  Government  does  not  propose  to  import  Tur/onions.  Government  has  taken various  measures  to  ensure  availability  of  pulses  and  moderate  its  price  fluctuations.  Such measures include initiatives for increasing production and productivity of pulses through National Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM),  promulgating  appropriate  Minimum  Support  Price  (MSP)  to incentivize production, etc. The Central Government has built buffer stock of pulses from which calibrated releases are undertaken from time to time to moderate price fluctuations. Pulses from buffer  stocks  are  also  being  utilized  by  States/UTs  under  Mid-day  Meal,  Integrated  Child Development  Services  and  Public  Distribution  System  Schemes.  Further,  Government  has  also signed  a  MoU  with  Mozambique  in  July,  2016  for  assured  supply  of  Tur  and  other  pulses.  In addition, trade policy with respect to pulses is suitably amended from time to time to appropriately regulate availability of pulses.

Under Price Stabilization Fund (PSF), buffer of around 48,052 MT of onions has been built as  on  23.06.19,  for  calibrated  release  during  the  lean  season  for  moderating  prices.  The  Central Government has offered onions from the buffer to States/UTs at no profit no loss basis to improve availability and moderate prices of onion during lean season. In addition, incentive on exports of onions under Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) has been withdrawn since 11 th June 2019  to  improve  domestic  availability  and  moderate  prices.  Government  also  closely  monitors prices of pulses and onion for timely interventions in case of price fluctuations.

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## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1751 FOR 02.07.2019 REGARDING IMPORT OF ARHAR DAL.

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| AVAILABILITY OF TUR AND ONIONS   | AVAILABILITY OF TUR AND ONIONS   | AVAILABILITY OF TUR AND ONIONS   |
|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2018-19                          | Tur                              | Onions                           |
| Production                       | 35 Lakh MT*                      | 232.84 Lakh MT^                  |
| Imports                          | 5.30 Lakh MT                     | 7,081 MT                         |
| Exports                          | 9,328 MT                         | 21.84 Lakh MT                    |
| Total Availability               | 40.21LMT                         | 21.11LMT                         |

## Note:

* as per 3 rd advanced estimates released by Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare.

^as per 2 nd advanced estimates released by Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare

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