Government Preps Buffer Stock Of Pulses, Onion To Counter Price Rise

New Delhi: Criticised for high prices of onions and pulses last year, the government is taking no chances this time. A special procurement drive has been launched to add both commodities to its buffer stock.

Government is prepping in case of any eventuality that may lead to shortage of essential commodities by adding 2,000 tonnes of onion and have 40,000 tonnes of pulses in its buffer stock.

A food ministry source said, "Last year, the procurement was 8,000 tonnes (for pulses). But this time the government was cautious and has built a buffer stock which far exceeds the targeted requirement."

Government agencies like NAFED have procured onion from farmers when prices were as low as Rs 10 per kg, which had touched Rs 90 per kg last year. This gives it enough elbow room to intervene and defeat the intent of profiteers and black marketers.

The government's procurement target for pulses is 1 lakh tonnes from the Rabi crop. This according to a government release includes 80,000 tonnes of chana and 20,000 tonnes of masoor for a buffer stock.

The onion output is estimated to be 20.3 metric tonnes this year, up by almost 2 metric tonnes. But a drop in output of pulses is expected. While the total demand for pulses is nearly 24 metric tonnes, the output is expected to be just 17.