(a) whether the Government have made any assessment regarding annual processing capacity for pulses in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the available capacity is being fully utilized;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(f) the remedial measures being taken in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
( SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV )
(a) to (f): No Sir. Government have not made any assessment regarding the processing capacity in view of the fact that no licence is required for milling the pulses. The information is not maintained Centrally as most of pulse mills are in small scale/cottage sector. It is estimated that there are about 10,000 pulse milling units scattered all over the country having on an average milling capacity of 1.0 MT/hour each. These mills generally work for 8 hours a day for 200 days in a year. Therefore, the total approximate installed capacity of all mills in the country works out to 16 million tonnes per annum. The production of pulses for the last many years has been stagnant at about 14 million tonnes per annum and the milling capacity is therefore considered adequate to process the entire pulse production in the country.