With dal prices ruling at above Rs 200 per kg in the retail markets, the Centre will start procuring 40,000 tonnes of pulses directly from farmers through NAFED and SFAC starting November.
The procured pulses will be used to create buffer stock and the Cabinet note is being moved in this regard, and if required the Centre may also import lentils, Agriculture Secretary Siraj Hussain told PTI.
“The government has decided to create buffer stock of pulses by procuring from farmers and also by importing if required. Pulses including tur, chana and urad will be procured directly from farmers in major producing districts,” Hussain said.
Nafed will procure from state cooperatives, FCI from state government organisations and SFAC from farmer producer organisations.
“It has been decided that 30,000 tonnes will be procured by Nafed and 10,000 tonnes will be procured by SFAC, The procurement will start from first week of November. And a Cabinet is being moved in this regard by the Agriculture Ministry,” Hussain said.
Prices have shot up due to a fall in output by two million tonnes in 2014-15 on deficient and untimely rains.