iGrain India - India’s central buffer stock of pulses has dropped by more than 50%, standing at just 13.63 lakh tonnes against the required 35 lakh tonnes, with significant shortages in key pulses like tuvar, urad, and gram.
Official data reveals that while the buffer stock should ideally include 10 lakh tonnes each of tuvar, lentil, and gram, along with 4 lakh tonnes of urad and 1 lakh tonnes of moong, actual stocks are far below these levels.
As of March 5, only 58,000 tonnes of tuvar, 6,000 tonnes of urad, and 10,000 tonnes of gram remained, while lentil and moong stocks stood relatively higher at 5.32 lakh tonnes and 7.57 lakh tonnes, respectively.
To address the shortfall, the Union Agriculture Ministry has approved the procurement of 13.20 lakh tonnes of tuvar for the 2024-25 season under the Price Support Scheme (PSS).
However, total pulse purchases have been declining—falling to 6.90 lakh tonnes in the 2023-24 season, compared to a peak of 28.30 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 and 30.30 lakh tonnes in 2021-22.
For the current Rabi season (2024-25), the government has sanctioned the procurement of 11.10 lakh tonnes of gram and 9.40 lakh tonnes of lentils, alongside smaller purchases of urad and moong.
Heavy procurement of gram is anticipated in Rajasthan, while lentil procurement will focus on Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
With Rabi crops contributing heavily to gram and lentil production, the government’s procurement strategy will be crucial in replenishing buffer stocks and stabilizing the market.
