Lok Sabha Question No. 224 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-11
Subject: Price of Pulses
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI), GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.224

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  11 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## PRICE OF PULSES

224.   SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI): SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  drought  conditions  in  Maharashtra,  Karnataka,  Andhra  Pradesh,  West Bengal and Gujarat have caused an increase in the prices of Kharif pulses and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  recommendations  of  the  Arvind  Subramanian  Committee  on  pulses submitted in September, 2016 have been implemented;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the steps being taken by the Government to sustain producer interest in cultivation of pulses in a protein-deficient country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी ( SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) The  prices  of  agricultural  produce  including  pulses  are  determined  by  supply  and demand conditions in the market on a day-to-day basis.  Apart from demand and supply conditions, availability of stocks and international prices are also affecting prices of pulses. Drought condition in some states or parts of the country is unlikely to affect the prices of pulses significantly, as the production of pulses has increased substantially in 2016-17 and 2017-18.   The all India average monthly wholesale prices of  kharif pulses during 2018-19 are given below:

(Rs.per Quintal)

| Month           |   Arhar |   Moong |   Urad |
|-----------------|---------|---------|--------|
| June, 2018      |    4081 |    5270 |   4695 |
| July, 2018      |    4160 |    5413 |   4678 |
| August, 2018    |    4095 |    5282 |   4795 |
| September, 2018 |    4088 |    5375 |   4755 |
| October, 2018   |    4077 |    5410 |   4906 |
| November, 2018  |    4458 |    5685 |   5228 |

(b)  to (d): The Committee headed by Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser had submitted its Report in  September, 2016.  Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP) considers a host of factors while recommending Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) after  broad  based  consultations  and  such  inputs.  Government  has  increased  MSPs substantially for all mandated crops including pulses for the season 2018-19 . This decision of the Government was a historic one as it fulfills the commitment to the farmers to provide 50 per cent return over cost of production for the first time for all mandated crops.

Apart from increase in MSP, procurement is made of the crops for which MSPs are announced  through  Central  and  State  agencies.  Government  implements  Price  Support Scheme  (PSS)  for  procurement  of  oilseeds,  pulses  and  cotton  through  Central  Nodal Agencies at MSP declared by the Government. This scheme is implemented at the request of the state government concerned which agrees to exempt the procured commodities from levy  of  mandi  tax  and  other  state  duties.  The  basic  objectives  of  PSS  are  to  provide remunerative  prices  to  the  growers  for  their  produce  with  a  view  to  encourage  higher investment  and  production  and  to  safeguard  the  interest  of  the  consumers  by  making available supplies at reasonable price with low cost of intermediation.

The recently launched Umbrella Scheme 'Pradhan  Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) provides for a holistic arrangement for assurance of a remunerative and  stable  price  environment  for  growers  /farmers  to  increase  agriculture  production  and productivity.  This  Umbrella  Scheme  comprises  Price  Support  Scheme  (PSS)  for  pulses  & oilseeds,  Price  Deficiency  Payment  Scheme  (PDPS)  &  Pilot  of  Private  Procurement  & Stockist Scheme (PPSS) for oilseeds to ensure MSP to the farmers.

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