Question : Free Import of Pulses

(a) whether the Government has assessed the detrimental impact leading to lower prices for local farmers as a result of the announcement of free import of pulses;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has assessed the impact of falling prices of pulses on the sowing quantity by farmers;
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(e) whether the Government has assessed the impact on traders who already bought grains at higher prices than MSP and stocked them; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) & (b) To enhance the domestic availability and smoothen the inflow of pulses import, changes have been made in import policy by shifting Tur, Urad and Moong from restricted category to free category for a limited period from 15th May 2021 to 31st October 2021. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) of pulses like Tur, Moong and Urad for the season 2021-22 has been fixed at Rs 6300, Rs. 7275 and Rs. 6300 per quintal respectively. The wholesale price of Gram, Tur, Urad and Moong etc. saw fluctuations during the past two months, but on the whole, the prices of pulses have been prevailing higher than MSP during the period.

(c) & (d) There is no adverse impact on sowing of these pulses. The estimated area covered under sowing in 2019-20 was 13646.32 thousand hectares while it was 13755.61 thousand hectares in 2020-21.

(e) & (f) Import of pulses is allowed and the import quantity is determined taking into consideration overall availability and price situation to protect farmers’ and consumers’ interest. No such assessment of the said impact has been done.
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