Question : DEMAND AND SUPPLY OF PULSES

(a) whether the availability of pulses is less than its demand in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether this is the reason for its high sale price;

(d) if so, the reaction of the Government in this regard;

(e) whether pulses are imported to meet the gap between the demand and supply thereof;

(f) if so, the quantum of pulses imported during each of the last three years; (g) whether it has reduced the price of pulses in the country; and (h) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reaction of the Government thereto?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI V.SREENIVASA PRASAD)

(a),(b) & (c): Yes, Sir. The demand and supply gap in the availability of pulses in the country is around three million tonnes and this mismatch in the demand and supply exerts pressure on the prices of pulses in the lean supply season.

(d), (e) & (f): The Government has permitted the import of pulses under OGL at zero import duty to bridge the gap between demand and supply in the country. Inorder to further augment its availability in the country, the Government had imported one lakh tones of different varieties of pulses, on Government account, during 99-2000. The import of pulses during the last three years are as follows:

Year	Quantity (in lakh tonnes)
1997-98	10.84	1998-99	5.66	1999-2000	1.70 (up to January, 2000)