Question : Consumption of Pulses

(a) the availability and consumption of pulses during each of the last three years and the current year, pulse-wise;

(b) whether the price of pulses have risen despite adequate/surplus stocks and decline in its prices in the global market, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government has restricted exports of pulses and imposed stock limits to control prices and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government has identified the agencies for undertaking imports of pulses, if so, the details thereof along with the criteria adopted for the selection of these agencies and the names of the countries from which pulses are likely to be imported?

THE MINISTER OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)

(a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*107 FOR 28.07.2015 REGARDING CONSUMPTION OF PULSES.
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(a) : The availability of pulses (i.e. domestic production plus imports minus exports) and their consumption for the last three years and the current year are indicated below:

(in million tonnes)
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
Availability* 22.26 22.56 21.74 23.90$
Consumption** 20.90 21.77 22.68 23.62
Sources:- * D/o Commerce (DOC) and D/o Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC)
**12th Plan Document
$ Based on DAC estimates

No official variety-wise estimates on consumption of pulses is available. The variety-wise availability of major pulses during the last three years and the current year are indicated below:

(in million tonnes)
Variety 2012-13* 2013-14*2014-15* 2015-16$
Chana/Gram 9.25 9.48 7.82 9.69
Arhar/Tur 3.60 3.83 3.27 4.19
Urad 2.54 2.21 2.32 2.43
Moong 1.84 2.23 2.01 2.34
Masoor 1.59 1.73 0.78 NA

Sources:- * D/o Commerce (DOC) and D/o Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC)
$ Based on DAC estimates

(b) : The upward trend in the price of pulses is due to decline in production on account of adverse weather conditions and also increase in consumption. As per the 3rd Advance Estimates for 2014-15, the production of pulses has come down to 17.38 million tonnes during 2014-15 as against 19.25 million tonnes during 2013-14 i.e. a decline of 9.71 per cent.

(c) : Yes, Madam. There is a ban on export of pulses except for Kabuli chana and up to a maximum of 10,000 tonnes per annum of organic pulses & lentils. The ban has been extended until further orders. States/UTs have also been authorized to impose stock limits in the case of select essential commodities such as pulses, edible oil, and edible oilseeds till 30.9.2015.

(d) : Metals & Minerals Trading Corporation (MMTC), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under Department of Commerce has been identified for undertaking imports of pulses, which will be financed through the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) Scheme. The countries from where the pulses are likely to be imported include Myanmar, Malawi, and Mozambique.

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