Government to set up National Mission on Pulses to bolster supply

Prime minister Manmohan Singh today said a National Mission on Pulses is being set up to bolster domestic production, which has been stagnant for the last several years.

India's pulses production has stalled at 14-15 million tonnes against an annual demand of 17-18 million tonnes. 

"Domestic production of pulses has stagnated over the past several years. The National Mission on pulses is being set up to address this issue," he said, while addressing a meeting of the chief ministers on price rise here.
  
The prime minister pointed out that prices of pulses have risen much more steeply than other food articles. 

Arhar dal (pigeon peas), urad dal (black matpe) and moong dal (green gram) are available in retail markets at over Rs90 a kg each. However, domestically grown chana dal (gram) and imported yellow peas (white matar) are cheaper at about Rs36,
and 26 a kg, respectively.
 
To meet domestic shortage of pulses, Singh said the government tried to import those varieties that are widely consumed in the country, but their supply in the international market was limited.

He suggested substituting traditional pulses like arhar, urad and moong with imported yellow peas. 

Speaking on the occasion, agriculture and food minister Sharad Pawar said, "Though the prices are showing a decline over the last fortnight, they still remain high."

He urged the state governments to closely monitor the price of pulses to ensure they are made available at lower rates to consumers.

Listing the Centre's measures like subsidised import and distribution through PDS, Pawar said, "I am certain that our
efforts will bear fruit and we will succeed in reigning in the
price of pulses in the country."

The country imports 3-4 million tonnes of pulses every year to meet its domestic requirement.