CCEA gives nod to raise buffer stock of pulses to 20 lakh tonnes
NEW DELHI : Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs( CCEA) today gave its nod to raise buffer stock of pulses to twenty lakh tonnes from eight lakh tonnes. It will be done at an estimated cost of 18,500 crore rupees to keep prices stable and encourage farmers to grow dal crop.
The stock will be built through domestic procurement and imports of 10 lakh tonnes each. The specific variety of pulses and their respective quantities for the stock, their phasing and procurement will be decided based on price and availability position. Releases from the stock and procurement in subsequent year would be based on the prevailing pulse scenario as well as buffer stock position.
Requisite funds for this operation would be provided to the ‘Price Stabilisation Fund’ Scheme of the Department of Consumer Affairs.
For creating the buffer stock, the domestic procurement operations will be undertaken by the central agencies or any other agency as decided by the government. State governments may also be authorized, wherever possible, to undertake the procurement in a manner similar to decentralized procurement of food-grains.
Later briefing reporters, Food Minister Ramvilas Paswan said the stock limit on pulses will not be lifted while export ban and zero import duty regime will continue. He said there will not be any paucity of funds for creating the buffer stock of pulses. The Minister also assured that price of essential items will be kept under control and warned that the Centre could cap retail prices using its power under the Essential Commodities Act.
According reports that the exercise will ensure a stable price regime for pulses and will also encourage domestic farmers to increase production of pulses. The production of pulses is expected to rise to 20 million tonnes in 2016-17 as farmers have grown pulses in larger area this year following good monsoon.
