With prices of pulses rising as much as 64 per cent over the last year, the Centre on Wednesday approved large-scale imports.
“The Cabinet discussed rising prices of pulses and express concern…to keep domestic prices under check it has been decided to import pulses in large quantities,” said Nitin Gadkari, the Union Transport Minister, at press conference after the Cabinet meeting. The Centre has also directed States to take strict action against hoarding to keep in supply and prices in check. No canalising agency has been decided as yet.
The production of pulses is estimated to have fallen to 17.38 million tonnes (mt) in the 2014-15 crop year (July-June) from 19.25 mt during the previous year.