Centre to trim buffer stock limit for pulses

Saddled with surplus pulses, the Centre is all set to cut down on the 20 lakh tonne buffer stock that was created after the prices of the kitchen staple had shot through the roof two years ago.

With prices of pulses touching Rs 200 per kg in 2015, the Centre had first announced a buffer stock of eight lakh tonnes of the primary protein source for vegetarians and later enhanced it to 20 lakh tonnes.

"We still have 18 lakh tonnes of pulses and are in the process of offloading to replenish the stock," a senior official in the Department of Consumer Affairs told DH.

He said the buffer stock policy had achieved one of its key goals – encouraging farmers to take up production of pulses in a big way.

"In 2016-17 we had a record production of pulses and farmers are expected to repeat the rich harvest this year too," he said.

India had harvested a record 22.95 million tonnes of pulses in 2016-17 crop year on the back of good monsoon and incentives provided by the government through higher support price.

The official said that the government has embarked on a consultation process to review the buffer stock limit from the existing 20 lakh tonnes as farm output is expected to remain in the higher trajectory.

"A committee under Ramesh Chand, member, Niti Ayog, has been set up to review the buffer stock limit," he said, adding that there could be a downward revision to the existing limit of 20 lakh tonnes.

India is also expected to review its bilateral agreement with Mozambique, signed during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2016.

Earlier this month, Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had announced that the Centre would dispose of immediately 5.5 lakh tonnes of pulses at lower rates to five states to meet the demands of central welfare schemes such like midday meal programme and for sale through the public distribution system.