Centre directs states to lift stockholding limit on pulses

Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Tuesday said the Centre had directed state governments to lift stockholding limits on pulses because of adequate supply and drop in prices. “The stockholding limits on pulses have been lifted with immediate effect, as there is no shortage of pulses in the country and prices, too, have fallen,” Paswan said in a series of tweets. He said the move will help producers of pulses. The central government had, in September last year, extended the stockholding limits on pulses for a year, as prices showed little signs of a fall. The stock limit on pulses was in place on and off prior to 2015. But states were empowered to implement it strictly towards the end of 2015, when dal prices soared to Rs 200 per kilo to check hoarding and contain price rise. However, with pulses production in 2016-17 reaching an all-time high of over 22 million tonne (mt), prices of most pulses, particularly tur, moong and masoor, have dropped below the minimum support price (MSP), forcing the government to intervene. “Under the Essential Commodities Act, states have been empowered to impose stockholding limits. The central government withdrew the order, as prices had fallen below MSP at several places,” said a senior official. Future & Option Trading Tips