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Informist, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024

 

By Pallavi Singhal

 

NEW DELHI – In view of the sharp rise in chana prices because of festival demand, agriculture cooperatives from Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Rajasthan have asked the Centre to allocate the pulse from its buffer stock, according to a senior central government official. The Maharashtra agriculture cooperative has sought 100,000 tonnes of chana to check the price rise ahead of Diwali. It must be noted that the state goes for assembly elections in November.

 

However, according to the central government official, the Centre will be unable to help as its own buffer has been depleted. "There is significant demand from states but we can only offer a few thousand tonnes but not more than that," the official said.

 

Chana prices have remained stubbornly high throughout the year, with the Centre struggling to address the fallout of a drastic decline in production. Production of chana plummeted to 11.03 million tonnes in 2023-24 (Jul-Jun) from 13.54 million tonnes harvested in 2021-22, according to the Ministry of Agriculture's final crop estimate. In 2022-23, chana production was 12.26 million tonnes.

 

Despite efforts to build a buffer stock, the Centre has been unsuccessful in procuring chana. According to the official, "The government attempted to directly source chana from farmers and markets, but its efforts were in vain. With already low supply and high prices, any intervention would have further driven up prices, exacerbating the situation."

 

Furthermore, the government's recent decision to allocate 300,000 tonnes of chana for its Bharat Dal scheme has further depleted the buffer stock it built last year. "For now, we have asked states to approach us directly and not through state co-operatives. We will then assess if we can help them in some way," the official said.

 

However, the India Pulses and Grains Association is optimistic about prices being contained due to the distribution of Bharat Chana dal and whole chana at lower rates, imports from Australia expected in November and December, and the availability of cheaper yellow peas. 

 

Chana prices in the wholesale mandis of the country are hovering between INR 7,400-7,800 per 100 kg, sharply up from the recently raised minimum support price of INR 5,650 per 100 kg. Prices are rising due to increased purchases by mills to fulfil last-minute demand for besan before they shut shop for Diwali next week, according to Ankit Kedia, a local trader from Akola in Maharashtra.  End

 

Edited by Ashish Shirke

 

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