CCEA gives nod to enhance Buffer Stock of Pulses up to 20 lakh tonnes

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday gave its nod to enhance buffer stock for pulses up to 20 lakh tonnes from 8 lakh tonnes.

The buffer stock will be built through domestic procurement and imports of 10 lakh tonnes each. The specific variety of pulses and their respective quantities for the stock, their phasing and procurement will be decided based on price and availability position. Releases from the stock and procurement in subsequent year would be based on the prevailing pulse scenario as well as buffer stock position.

Requisite funds for this operation would be provided to the ‘Price Stabilisation Fund’ Scheme of the Department of Consumer Affairs. For creating the buffer stock, the domestic procurement operations will be undertaken by the central agencies or any other agency as decided by the government.

State governments may also be authorized, wherever possible, to undertake the procurement in a manner similar to decentralized procurement of food-grains. The allocation of the pulses from the buffer stock would be made to states, Union Territories and central agencies.