The Food Ministry is keeping a close watch on the availability of pulses in the face of deficient production.

To tackle any further spike in prices and ensure availability of the staple food item, the Centre has requested States to project their demands for timely release from the buffer stock.

“States/Union Territories have been empowered to impose stock limits on pulses to ensure ability and check hoarding. They have been asked to strictly enforce the stock limits and take stringent action against hoarding,” an official release said.

According to official figures, during 2015-16, a total of 55 lakh tonnes (lt) of pulses were imported by private traders, 10 lt more than the last fiscal year’s import, while government agencies have contracted for 25,000 tonnes to meet domestic demand.

In addition, the government procured 50,000 tonnes of pulses during 2015-16, the release added.

It said to encourage pulses production, the minimum support price had already been hiked by ₹275/quintal for tur and urad, and by ₹250 for moong.

As per a CRISIL report in November, pulses production in the country was impacted by three consecutive monsoon shocks – deficient South-West monsoon in 2014 and 2015 affecting the kharif season output, and weather disturbances in March 2015 affecting the rabi output.

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