Lok Sabha Question No. 184 (STARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Production of Pigeon Pea
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: DNV Senthilkumar. S., Amol Ramsing Kolhe

## Government of India

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

## LOK  SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. *184

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

## PRODUCTION OF PIGEON PEA

*184. DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.: DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

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 total production of pigeon pea and black gram during each of the last three years and the current year;

- (b) whether prices of tur (pigeon pea) and black gram pulses has risen sharply in the open market and if so, the details thereof and reasons therefor;

- (c) whether the Government has directed the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation and  National  Cooperative  Consumer  Federation  to  offload  pigeon  peas  from  federal  stockpiles through online auctions among millers to bring down the prices of pigeon peas and if so, the details thereof;

- (d) the constraints faced by the Government to control the prices of pigeon pea and black gram;

- (e) whether the Government has formulated any scheme for procurement of pulses with the objective of minimizing the effect of scarcity of pulses and if so, the details thereof; and

- (f) the other steps taken by the Government to control the prices of pigeon pea and black gram in the open market?

## ANSWER

miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h ¼Jh ih;w"k xks;y½

THE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (f)  :   A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO.*184 FOR 02.08.2023 REGARDING PRODUCTION OF PIGEON PEA.

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- (a) : The total production of pigeon pea (tur) and black gram (urad) during each of the last three years and the current year are as under:
- (b) to (d)  : The  all-India  average  retail  prices  of  tur  dal  and  urad  dal  have  increased  by  28.31%  and 8.07%, respectively on year-on-year basis. On month-on-month basis, the increase in the retail prices of tur dal and urad dal are 4.40% and 1.23%, respectively. The increase in the retail prices of tur dal and urad dal are attributed to lower domestic production in 2022-23 on account of adverse weather conditions and  the attack  of  tur  crop  by  wilt  disease  in  Karnataka  and  Maharashtra.  The  Government  has  directed  National Agricultural  Cooperative  Marketing  Federation  (NAFED) on  26.06.2023  to  dispose  pigeon  pea  from  the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) buffer through online auction to millers in a calibrated manner to augment availability of tur dal to the consumers. A tentative target of 50,000 MT has been fixed for disposal. Till date,  4,236.59  MT  has  been  disposed.  The  prices  of  pulses,  including  pigeon  pea  and  black  gram  are observed  to  fluctuate  from  year  to  year  due  to  variations  in  production  on  account  of  changes  in  area coverage in response to the price realisation by farmers, weather condition etc. Prices are also subject to seasonal  fluctuations  due  to  high  and  low  consumption  months,  harvest  and  market  arrival  and  also  by market sentiments generated by sowing progress, crop condition and trade situation.
- (e) & (f)  : The  Government  undertakes  the  procurement  of  pulses  at  Minimum  Support  Price  (MSP) under  the  Price  Support  Scheme  (PSS)  to  ensure  remunerative  prices  to  the  farmers.  Pulses  are  also procured  under  the  PSF  to  meet  the  buffer  requirement.  In  order  to  incentivise  domestic  production  of pigeon pea, black gram and lentils and minimize the import requirements, the Government has announced the removal of 40% ceiling on PSS procurement of these pulses during 2023-24.

| Year                  |   Pigeon pea (Tur) (in Lakh Tonnes) |   Black Gram (Urad) (in Lakh Tonnes) |
|-----------------------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| 2019-20               |                               38.92 |                                20.81 |
| 2020-21               |                               43.16 |                                22.3  |
| 2021-22               |                               42.2  |                                27.76 |
| 2022-23 (3 rd Advance |                               34.3  |                                26.12 |

In order to augment the domestic availability of pigeon pea and black gram and check the increase in prices the import of these pulses has been kept under 'Free Category' till 31.03.2024, and import duty of 10% on pigeon pea has been removed to facilitate smooth and seamless imports. To prevent hoarding, stock limits have been imposed on pigeon pea and black gram under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 on 2 nd June, 2023 till 31 st October, 2023. The stocks held by entities such as traders, dealers, importers and millers are being continuously monitored through the online stock disclosure portal. Further, the ongoing disposal of pigeon pea from the buffer is undertaken to check the increase in prices of tur dal.