Govt makes stock disclosure mandatory for pulses; starts chana procurement at MSP
pulses importers, millers, stockists, traders, and processors to disclose their stocks of all pulses from April 15 to prevent hoarding as it suspects a large quantity of imported legumes are lying in customs warehouses.
Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare will meet pulses traders, representatives of various government departments such as customs and state government representatives in separate meetings to discuss measures for bringing imported pulses, which are lying in customs warehouses, to the market.
ET had reported that the government is planning to make it mandatory for pulses traders and retailers to disclose stocks of yellow peas (matar), tur (pigeon peas) and urad as prices in some markets show an increasing trend in its April 5 edition.
The secretary also said that the centre has started procuring chana (gram) from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 5,440 per quintal for maintaining the buffer stock to check prices and meet the demand of those states which want to distribute under their welfare schemes.
“There are no concerns over production of chana,” Khare said, adding that the agriculture ministry has indicated that the yield of chana is intact, and production will be 121 LMT which is only be marginally lower than last year’s 122 LMT.
“With the increase in the arrival of chana crop, mandi prices have softened and reached the MSP level. We have just started the procurement operation,” Khare added.
With the demand for chana rising from state governments for distribution through
