Committee to consider increasing MSP for pulses

To contain the spiralling prices of pulses, the Union government on Monday decided to establish a committee to consider increasing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the bonus for pulses, a move that could promote pulses farming.

A high-powered committee, chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitely, met here to review the availability of pulses and their prices. Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu were present.

It was decided to set up the committee headed by Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian, and it would consider a reasonable increase in the MSP for pulses and bonus for farmers for growing the crops. The committee will submit a report within two weeks.

Mr. Paswan told reporters after the meeting that the government also decided to increase the buffer stock of pulses to 20 lakh tonnes from the current eight lakh tonnes.

“Besides, we have decided to explore the possibility of agreements with all pulses-producing countries. We have already signed an agreement with Mozambique for importing tur. We are in talks with Canada and Myanmar to find a long-term solution to shortage.”

At the meeting, serious concerns were expressed over the prices of chana dal. The committee felt that the States should take strict action to ensure its availability at reasonable prices because there is good production.

“I once again appeal to all the States to lift pulses from us. We have procured pulses,” Mr. Paswan said. The Centre was giving tur at Rs.66 and urad at Rs.82 to the States for retail distribution at not more than Rs.120 a kg.

‘Prices will come down’

Quoting a report of the Agriculture Ministry, Mr. Paswan said the domestic production of pulses was likely to touch 20 million tonnes this year, as against a little over 17 million tonnes during 2015-16. “Pulse prices will start cooling in 2-3 months as the gap between demand and supply narrows,” he said.