Government Imposes Stock Limit on Tur and Gram, Applicable Till September 30
22 June 2024, New Delhi: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has imposed stock limits on tur and gram, including Kabuli gram, which will be in force till September 30, 2024. This step has been taken to prevent hoarding and speculation and increase the availability of these pulses to consumers.
Storage limits
Under the new order, stock limits have been set for each pulse. For wholesalers, it is 200 metric tonnes. For retailers, it is 5 metric tonnes. For large chain retailers, it is 5 metric tonnes at each retail outlet and 200 metric tonnes at depots. For millers, it is the last 3 months of production or 25% of annual installed capacity, whichever is higher. Importers cannot hold stock for more than 45 days from the date of customs clearance
The Department of Consumer Affairs has directed the concerned legal entities to declare their stock position on the department’s portal. If they have stock in excess of the prescribed limits, they have to bring it down to the prescribed limits by July 12, 2024.
Price control
The move is part of various measures taken by the government to curb prices of essential commodities. The Department of Consumer Affairs has closely monitored the stock position of pulses and had notified the State Governments to implement mandatory stock declaration by all stockholding entities in the first week of April 2024. Subsequently, visits were made to major pulses producing States and trading centres from the last week of April to 10th May 2024.
The Government reduced the import duty on Desi Chana by 66% from 4th May 2024 to boost domestic production. This has resulted in increased imports of chana and increased sowing of chana in major producing countries.
Kharif Pulses Sowing
The sowing of Kharif pulses like tur and urad is expected to increase this season, as farmers are receiving higher prices and above-normal monsoon rains have been predicted by the Indian Meteorological Department.
All these factors will help in moderating the prices of Kharif pulses like tur and urad in the coming months. The arrival of the new crop of gram in Australia and its import from October 2024 will help in maintaining the availability of gram for consumers and make it available at affordable prices.
