Government agencies procured 68,000 tonnes of Rabi pulses, as on June 27, 2016, taking the total to 1,19,000 tonnes, including 51,000 tonnes of the Kharif crop.

Besides this, 14,321 tonnes of pulses have been imported by government agencies against the total contracted quantity of 46,000 tonnes, the Food Ministry said on Tuesday.

After an inter-Ministerial meeting to review lifting and distribution of pulses allocated from the buffer stock to the States here on Tuesday, the Ministry also decided to once again request States to expedite the lifting of pulses -- tur and urad – from the buffer stock for distribution at Rs 120/kg.

The meeting, chaired by Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Hem Pande, also reviewed the prices of essential commodities and discussed measures to ensure availability of these commodities at reasonable prices.

“In Delhi, outlets of Kendriya Bhandar and Mother Dairy/Safal have sold 1,058 quintals of tur and 345 quintals of urad so far at the rate Rs 120/kg, as on June 27,” the Ministry said in a statement.

Retails prices of pulses have been rising consistently for over a year. At present, prices are ruling close to Rs 200/kg in view of the shortfall of about seven million tonnes in domestic output following two drought years. In some States, urad dal is ruling as high as Rs 196/kg.

To check the price rise and ensure availability, the government is creating buffer stock of pulses up to 8 lakh tonnes through domestic procurement and imports, including from countries such as Mozambique and Myanmar. In addition, stockholding limits have been imposed on pulses to check hoarding.

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