For efficient management of buffer stock off pulses, an agency for designing and managing the bid process has been selected and the contract for appointment is being finalised, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

As on March 8, 2017, around 14.66 lakh tonnes of pulses have been procured or contracted for import towards building the buffer.

The government has approved the creation of a buffer up to 20 lakh tonnes .

“The 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,” CR Chaudhary, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, said in a written reply.

He added that “the agency for designing and managing the bid process has been selected. The contract for appointment is being finalised.

The government has also contracted imports of 4.06 lakh tonnes of pulses towards building the buffer stock, the Minister said.

Asked if there was a shortage of pulses in the country, the Minister said that as as per the NITI Aayog, the projected demand for pulses in 2016-17 was around 24.61 million tonnes, while the estimated production of pulses (2nd Advance Estimates 2016-17) was 22.14 million tonnes.

This implies that demand is higher than domestic production.

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