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?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) & (b): To enhance the domestic availability and smoothen the inflow of pulses, changes have been made in import policy by shifting Moong from restricted category to free category for a limited period from 15th May 2021 to 31st October 2021 and Tur and Urad up to 31st December, 2021. Whereas, the import of Gram and Lentil continue to remain in free category.

Since the relaxation in May, 2021, whole sale prices of Gram, Tur, Urad and Moong etc. have been prevailing higher than the MSP, till now.
(c) & (d): The area covered under sowing in 2019-20 was 279.9 Lakh hectares while it was 288.3 Lakh hectares in 2020-21.Further, as per fourth advance estimate for 2021-22, the area covered under sowing of Kharif Pulses is 135.2 Lakh hectares which is almost same as compared to last two years. As such, there is no adverse impact on the sowing of pulses.
(e) & (f): An institutional mechanism in the form of high level Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) exists which meets on weekly basis to decide matters like allowing import of pulses and determining the import quantity taking into consideration overall availability and price situation to protect farmers’ and consumers’ interest.
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