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Informist, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024

 

NEW DELHI – The Department of Consumer Affairs has allocated 300,000 tonnes of chana from its buffer stocks to government agencies for sale under the Bharat Brand till Dec. 31, according to a consumer affairs ministry document shared by the India Pulses and Grains Association. The sales are likely to begin sometime in the coming week, a government official told Informist. 

 

While 80% of the allocated stock will be sold as chana dal at a retail price of INR 70 per kg, the remaining 20% will be sold in the form of the whole chana at INR 58 per kg, according to the document. 

 

The National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India as well as the government's Kendriya Bhandar outlets will be allocated a total of 100,000 tonnes each to undertake the phase-II of Bharat Chana Dal sales. To ensure maximum traceability, the agencies have been asked to give priority to digital payments only. 

 

The government's intervention is aimed at boosting the availability of chana, as demand for the commodity has surged due to a combination of factors. Farmers are seeking better returns on their crops, and there is an uptick in demand for chana seeds. The upcoming wedding season and festivals are also driving seasonal demand, further fuelling the need for increased supply. The government hopes to ensure a steady and adequate supply of chana seeds to meet the growing demand and stabilise the market, according to the government official cited above.

 

It was on Jul. 18 last year that the sale of subsidised chana dal under the brand name 'Bharat Dal' was launched. This was the first of the Bharat brands to be brought to the market. The dal was priced at INR 60 per kg, 18% lower than the market price of INR 74.5 per kg, according to consumer affairs ministry data. It was also made available in packs of 30 kg at INR 55 per kg to further temper prices. 

 

Wholesale prices of chana in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, were ruling at INR 7,450-7,600 per 100 kg, as on Friday. Traders expect the demand to pick up ahead of Diwali, which is on Nov. 1 this year.  End

 

Reported by Pallavi Singhal

Edited by Vandana Hingorani

 

 

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