Centre decides to raise buffer stock of pulses from 1.5 lakh to 8 lakh tonnes

The Centre has decided to import pulses from Myanmar and Africa to beef up buffer stocks to check its price rise. The government also decided to enhance the buffer stock of pulses from 1.5 lakh tonnes to 8 lakh tonnes.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley held a high-level meeting with Union Ministers in New Delhi yesterday and discussed strategy to control prices. Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu have attended the meeting.

Release of more pulses



from the buffer stock whenever there is a demand from the states as well as import of pulses to deal with the price rise were discussed in the meeting. To boost supply of pulses, Mr Jaitley asked the Food Ministry to import more via public and private agencies.

Mr. Paswan informed that the government has decided to send a team immediately to pulses-growing nations like Myanmar to explore government-to-government imports. He also blamed the States for price rise saying they are equally responsible for keeping the prices of essential commodities under control.