Lok Sabha Question No. 267 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: Prices of Tur and Urad
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Manickam Tagore B

## Government of India

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 267

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2024

## PRICES OF TUR AND URAD

## 267. SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B:

## Will  the  Minister  of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the measures put in place to regulate whether the prices of tur and urad considering the ten percent decline in mandi prices during the last three months;
- (b) the reasons for not decreasing the retail prices of tur and urad in line with the decline in mandi price and the steps taken/being taken by the Government to address this disparity;
- (c) whether the imports of tur and urad from East African countries and Myanmar impacted domestic prices and if so, the Government's strategy for future imports;
- (d) whether initiatives has been taken by the Government to increase the sowing area for kharif pulses, resulting in a seven percent increase over last year and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details and the update on the current crop condition of kharif pulses and its expected impact on prices?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h (श्री बी.एल. वर्मा )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L.VERMA)

(a) & (b) : The retail prices of Tur and Urad have declined  or remained stable in last 3 months with the decline  in  Mandi  prices.  Department  of  Consumer  Affairs  holds  regular  meetings  with  Retailers' Association of India (RAI) and organised retail chains to deliberate on the trends in mandi and retail prices of  pulses  to  ensure  that  retailers  maintain  the  retail  margins  at  reasonable  levels.  In  order  to  intervene directly in the retail market, the government has also converted part of the stock of pulses from the buffer to dals for retail sale to the consumers at affordable prices under the Bharat Dal brand. Similarly, atta and rice are  distributed  to  retail  consumers  under  Bharat  brand  at  subsidized  prices.  Onion  from  the  buffer  are released in a calibrated and targeted manner to moderate prices in high price consuming centres at wholesale markets  and  through  retail  outlets.  Onion  is  distributed  among  retail  consumers  at  Rs.35  per  kg  through stationary  retail  outlets  and  mobile  vans  in  major  consumption  centres.  These  measures  have  helped  in making essential food commodities such as pulses, rice, atta and onion available to consumers at affordable prices and also in stabilising the prices.

(c)    :    In order to ensure smooth and seamless import of pulses to augment domestic availability, import of Tur  and  Urad  has  been  kept  under 'Free  Category'  till  31.03.2025 and  zero  duty  on  Masur  import  till 31.03.2025. Additionally, the Government has also allowed duty free import of Desi chana till 31.03.2025 to  augment  the  supply  of  pulses  in  the  domestic  market.  Stable  import  policy  regime  of  Tur,  Urad  and Masur has been effective in ensuring the consistent supply of tur and urad in the country due to continuous flow of imports in maintaining the availability and checking abnormal price rise in pulses.

(d)  :  The Department of Consumer Affairs provided support to NCCF and NAFED for farmers' awareness campaigns,  outreach  programmes,  seed  distribution  etc.  The  Government  has  implemented  the  preregistration of farmers for assured procurement of Tur and urad under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) and the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) components of PM- AASHA scheme through NAFED and NCCF. Total 10.66 lakh farmers have been registered by NCCF and NAFED as on 22.11.2024.

(e)  :  The  condition  of  Kharif  crops  is  good  and  harvesting  is  completed  for  short  duration  crops  such  as Moong, Urad, while harvesting of Tur crop has just commenced. The weather has also been favorable for the  crop  in  maintaining  a  good  flow  across  the  supply  chain  to  the  consumers,  which  is  expected  to moderate the prices of pulses.

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