Question : Shortage of Pulses

(a) whether there is a shortage of pulses in the country because production continues to be lower than the estimated demand, if so, the per year estimated demand of pulses and the extent to which the production is short of the demand;
(b) whether the Union Government has hired a consultant to advise it on engaging a professional agency for efficient management of buffer stock of pulses that is being created for use in times of price rise and if so, the reasons for engaging private consultant and progress made in the matter;
(c) whether the Union Government has fixed target of 20 lakh tonnes buffer stock of pulses and if so, the details of the buffer stock of pulses built so far; and
(d) whether the Union Government has imported pulses to create buffer stock and if so, the price difference between imported pulses and purchase from the domestic growers, pulse-wise?

THE MINISTER OF STATE
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) : As per the Working Group Report on Foodgrains-Balancing Demand & Supply During 12th FYP of Niti Aayog (erstwhile Planning Commission), the projected demand for pulses during 2016-17 is estimated to be around 24.61 million tonnes while the estimated production of pulses (2nd Advance Estimates of Production of Foodgrains, 2016-17) is 22.14 million tonnes, thereby implying higher demand than domestic production.

(b) : Government has approved engaging a professional Buffer Stock Management Agency (BSMA) for efficient management of the buffer stock including procurement, storage, maintenance and liquidation of the stock as per Government directives from time to time. The agency for designing and managing the bid process has been selected. Contract for appointment is being finalized.

(c) : The Government has approved creation of buffer upto 20 lakh tonnes of pulses. As on 08.03.2017, around 14.66 lakh tonnes of pulses have been procured or contracted for imports towards building the buffer.

(d) : Government has contracted imports of 4.06 lakh tonnes of pulses towards building the buffer stock. The prices of pulses fluctuates daily as well as over season. While approving the bid for imports, Price Stabilization Fund Management Committee (PSFMC) ,inter alia, compares offer rate with prevailing domestic rate and bids are generally approved for import when the rate offered are lower than prevailing domestic prices of that pulses.
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