Govt targets 1 million-tonne tur buffer stock to stabilize prices amid rising production

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: The Centre is ramping up efforts to stabilize prices of tur (pigeon pea), a key staple in Indian diets, by targeting a buffer stock of 1 million tonnes for the fiscal year 2025-26, according to two people familiar with the matter. The consumer affairs ministry is leading the effort amid expectations of rising domestic production and a declining price trend.

“So far, around 200,000 tonne of tur has been procured, and the process is gaining momentum as arrivals increase in major producing states," said one of the persons cited above. “A higher buffer stock of the essential pulse will help in easing food inflation and keeping the prices of food items under control," this person said. With procurement for the 2024-25 marketing season underway, officials expect purchases to reach around 500,000 tonnes by the end of March.

For the 2024-25 crop year, tur production is estimated at 3.5 million tonnes, a 3% increase from last year. The crop’s output has fluctuated in recent years, peaking at 4.22 million tonnes in FY22 before dropping to 3.31 million tonnes in FY23 due to erratic weather patterns and changing sowing trends. Domestic consumption has also seen fluctuations, standing at 4.7 million tonnes in FY21, rising to 5 million tonnes the following year, before dipping to 4.6 million tonnes.

Imports from Mozambique, Myanmar, Malawi, and Tanzania typically bridge the gap, with duty-free imports permitted until March 2026. The buffer stock serves as a safeguard, much like financial reserves, ensuring price stability despite the consistent demand-supply gap. Read this | India may extend duty-free urad imports as supplies keep falling India maintains a buffer stock of pulses to