Lok Sabha Question No. 3349 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-16
Subject: Import of Pulses to Check Prices
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Su Thirunavukkarasar

## Government of India

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3349

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2021

## IMPORT OF PULSES TO CHECK PRICES

3349.  SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARASAR SU:

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 proposes to import pulses to improve availability and check prices;
- (b) if so, the details thereof indicating the production, demand and import of pulses during each of the last three years and the imports proposed during the current year along with the other steps being taken to check its hoarding/ blackmarketing and prices; and
- (c) whether the Government has formulated or proposes any long term strategy to check the rising prices of pulses as well as to protect the interest of the farmers 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) : Yes Sir.
- (b) : The  notification  for  the  annual  import  quota  of  4  Lakh  MT  (LMT)  of  Urad  for  fiscal  year 2021-22 has been issued.

The details pertaining to production and import of pulses during each of the last three years is given below:

Table 1: Production and Import of Pulses

|                                       | Production of Pulses (LMT)            | Production of Pulses (LMT)            | Production of Pulses (LMT)            | Import of Pulses (LMT)         | Import of Pulses (LMT)         | Import of Pulses (LMT)         |
|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Pulse                                 | 2018-19                               | 2019-20                               | 2020-21^                              | 2018-19                        | 2019-20                        | 2020-21*                       |
| Tur                                   | 33.20                                 | 38.90                                 | 38.80                                 | 5.31                           | 4.50                           | 4.40                           |
| Urad 30.60                            |                                       | 20.80                                 | 24.50                                 | 4.90                           | 3.12                           | 3.21                           |
| 12.30                                 | 11.00                                 |                                       | 13.50                                 | 2.49 8.54                      | 11.01                          | Masoor                         |
| 24.60                                 | 25.10                                 | 26.20                                 | 0.84                                  | 0.69                           | 0.52                           | Moong                          |
| Gram 99.40                            | 118.00                                |                                       | 116.20                                | 1.86                           | 3.71                           | 2.91                           |
| Source: DACFW, ^2nd Advance Estimates | Source: DACFW, ^2nd Advance Estimates | Source: DACFW, ^2nd Advance Estimates | Source: DACFW, ^2nd Advance Estimates | Source: DGCIS, *Up to 7.3.2021 | Source: DGCIS, *Up to 7.3.2021 | Source: DGCIS, *Up to 7.3.2021 |

The Essential Commodities  Act, 1955 and the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980, empowers the Government to regulate prices, production, supply, distribution and prevention of hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities for maintaining their supplies and for securing their availability at fair prices.

(c) : The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) aims to increase domestic production of pulses through  enhanced  productivity,  crop  area  expansion  under  pulses  and  promoting  research  and development for evolving better varieties. In addition, the Government announces Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for 22 mandated crops to ensure remunerative prices to farmers.

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