The Centre will meet representatives of the Indian Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA) every month to take stock of retail prices of pulses that still rule high, as well as supply issues.

This was decided at a meeting between Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and IGPA members here on Thursday evening. The meeting comes soon after the Centre’s decision to enhance the buffer stock limit of pulses to 20 lakh tonnes, which includes 10 lakh tonnes of imported pulses.

At the meeting, Paswan told traders that given the demand-supply net deficit scenario of pulses in the country, there was need for importers of pulses to be more transparent in their operations.

“There is a need for the government and the traders to work closely so that traders get to know the realistic gap in the supplies of various pulses. This would help the traders plan fior mports,” an official statement said.

Paswan informed the traders that for augmenting supplies, the Centre had entered into G2G (government to government) long-term contracts with countries, such as Mozambique, adding that the role of government was that of a facilitator.

He said this move of the government had opened a window for private traders to expand operations to foreign lands with more surety and stability, and urged traders to extend all support for successful execution of G2G contracts.

Meanwhile, the IGPA assured the government that they would provide data regarding imports in advance. As per the Ministry, there was “silent acceptance” by the representatives from various associations of pulses trade that the unprecedented price last year was due to speculation and hoarding.

Traders also pointed out the need for exchanging the production estimates of the Agriculture Ministry and that of the traders. Government estimates and trade estimates need to be compared so that more correct figures are arrived at, they felt.

Even as wholesale prices of pulses have showed a decline, the retail prices are still high with arhar being sold at ₹120-130/kg. However, following good monsoons, the Agriculture Ministry expects pulses production to reach an all-time high of 8.22 million tonnes in 2016-17, almost 50 per cent higher than last year.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW