The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) plans to convert 20% of its raw chana stock into chana dal (gram or Bengal gram) and supply it to the retail market, a development that comes at a time when two government officials say This has happened when the government has huge short stock of gram and other pulses as compared to the strategic buffer requirement. At present, Nafed has about 3.6 million tonnes (MT) of chana in stock, which includes 3.3 million tonnes procured under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) from the Ministry of Agriculture this year. Over-buying has resulted in the last two years due to low market prices amid record high production.
According to the second advance estimate of food production by the Ministry of Agriculture, the production of gram in 2022-23 (July-June) has been estimated at 13.5 MT, which is almost the same as last year. Due to excess production this year too, chana prices have remained below the minimum support price of Rs 5,335 per quintal, prompting farmers to sell their produce to the government's procurement agency Nafed. Due to which the farmers are getting good benefits.
NIFED has created a buffer stock of 4.27 MT against the strategic norm of 2.3 MT, which includes all the 5 domestic pulses as well as imported stock. According to market sources, raw gram varieties from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are being sold at Rs 5,100 to Rs 5,125 per quintal in Delhi's Lawrence Road market.
20% raw gram will be converted into pulses
A government official said that converting 20% raw gram stock into pulses is an experiment. Apart from releasing raw gram, NAFED is considering to release raw gram after grinding it in the form of pulses. After this it will be issued to the states or in the open market it is not yet decided. It can be sold in the open market or given to retailers.
Pulses have not been stored for a year
The government has been giving subsidized chana for almost a year to states and union territories to clear their stocks, as pulses cannot be stored for more than a year. Recently the Department of Consumer Affairs has increased the discount rate from Rs 8 per kg to Rs 15 per kg to increase liquidation. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had in August last year approved allocation of 1.5 million tonnes of chana to states and union territories on a "first come, first served" basis for various welfare schemes at a subsidized rate.
No comments:
Post a Comment