Government to release 10000 MT pulses from buffer stock

The Centre has decided to release 10000 MT pulses mainly Tur and Urad from buffer stock to ensure their availability at reasonable prices. The Government of India has requested State governments to avail this benefit and utilize the available stocks for managing the prices of pulses in their respective State. In this context States have also been requested to project their demands of pulses immediately to ensure timely allocation from the buffer stock. They have also been asked to keep a close watch on the prices and to take stringent action against hoarding of f the commodity. The centre has already empowered the States to impose stock limits on the pulses to ensure easy availability.

Government agencies have made procurement of about 50,000 MT pulses from the farmers during the Kharif Marketing Season, 2015-16 and has contracted 25,000 MT of pulses for import. The Government is also initiating procurement of Rabi pulses and has targeted to procure around 1, 00,000 MT of Chana and Masur to build the buffer stocks further.

SEBI has also decided to implement various regulatory measures on Chana contracts which include increase in the margin requirement to discourage speculation and to moderate the price volatility in forward market.

In order to encourage pulses production the Government has already increased MSP for pulses, by Rs.275 per qtl for Tur & Urad, and by Rs.250 per qtl for Moong.