New Delhi: The government on Friday imposed stock limits on tur and chana dals till September this year to check hoarding and prices.
The Center has issued an order imposing stock limits, which will apply to wholesalers, retailers, large retail chains, millers and importers, according to an official statement.
The move aims to "prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation, and also improve affordability for consumers with respect to tur and chana."
The Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Food Products (Amendment) Order 2024 was issued with immediate effect from June 21, 2024.
Under this order, stock limits for tur and chana, including Kabuli chana, have been prescribed till September 30, 2024, for all states and union territories.
The stock limits applicable to each legume individually will be 200 tons for wholesalers; 5 tons for retailers; 5 tons at each point of sale and 200 tons at the warehouse of large retail chains; the last three months of production or 25 percent of annual installed capacity, whichever is greater, for millers.
Importers should not retain imported stock beyond 45 days from the date of customs clearance.
The respective legal entities have been asked to declare the shareholding position on the Consumer Affairs Department portal.
"In case the stocks held by them are more than the prescribed limits, they must bring them to the prescribed stock limits before July 12, 2024," the statement read.
The government said the imposition of stock limits on tur and chana is part of a series of measures taken to suppress prices of essential commodities.
The Department of Consumer Affairs has been closely monitoring the stock position of pulses through the stock disclosure portal.
In the first week of April 2024, the department had approached state governments to enforce mandatory stock disclosure by all shareholder entities, which was followed by visits to major pulses-producing states and commercial hubs. the entire country since the last week of April. to May 10, 2024.
Separate meetings were also held with traders, stockists, importers, millers and large retail chains to encourage and sensitize them on truthful stock disclosure and maintaining affordability of pulses for consumers.
The government had reduced 66 per cent import duty on desi chana from May 4, 2024, to increase domestic production.
The reduction of duties has facilitated imports and has caused greater planting of chana in the main producing countries.
According to a report, chana production in Australia is estimated to increase from 5 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 to 11 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, which is expected to be available from October 2024 onwards.
"Sowing of Kharif pulses like tur and urad is expected to increase significantly this season due to high prices realized by farmers and above-normal monsoon rains forecast by the IMD," the statement said.
Additionally, imports of the current year's tur crop from East African countries are expected to arrive from August 2024.
"These factors are expected to help lower prices of Kharif pulses such as tur and urad in the next month. The arrival of a new chana crop in Australia and its availability for import from October 2024 will help maintain availability of chana to consumers at affordable prices," the government said.
The Center has issued an order imposing stock limits, which will apply to wholesalers, retailers, large retail chains, millers and importers, according to an official statement.
The move aims to "prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation, and also improve affordability for consumers with respect to tur and chana."
The Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Food Products (Amendment) Order 2024 was issued with immediate effect from June 21, 2024.
Under this order, stock limits for tur and chana, including Kabuli chana, have been prescribed till September 30, 2024, for all states and union territories.
The stock limits applicable to each legume individually will be 200 tons for wholesalers; 5 tons for retailers; 5 tons at each point of sale and 200 tons at the warehouse of large retail chains; the last three months of production or 25 percent of annual installed capacity, whichever is greater, for millers.
Importers should not retain imported stock beyond 45 days from the date of customs clearance.
The respective legal entities have been asked to declare the shareholding position on the Consumer Affairs Department portal.
"In case the stocks held by them are more than the prescribed limits, they must bring them to the prescribed stock limits before July 12, 2024," the statement read.
The government said the imposition of stock limits on tur and chana is part of a series of measures taken to suppress prices of essential commodities.
The Department of Consumer Affairs has been closely monitoring the stock position of pulses through the stock disclosure portal.
In the first week of April 2024, the department had approached state governments to enforce mandatory stock disclosure by all shareholder entities, which was followed by visits to major pulses-producing states and commercial hubs. the entire country since the last week of April. to May 10, 2024.
Separate meetings were also held with traders, stockists, importers, millers and large retail chains to encourage and sensitize them on truthful stock disclosure and maintaining affordability of pulses for consumers.
The government had reduced 66 per cent import duty on desi chana from May 4, 2024, to increase domestic production.
The reduction of duties has facilitated imports and has caused greater planting of chana in the main producing countries.
According to a report, chana production in Australia is estimated to increase from 5 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 to 11 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, which is expected to be available from October 2024 onwards.
"Sowing of Kharif pulses like tur and urad is expected to increase significantly this season due to high prices realized by farmers and above-normal monsoon rains forecast by the IMD," the statement said.
Additionally, imports of the current year's tur crop from East African countries are expected to arrive from August 2024.
"These factors are expected to help lower prices of Kharif pulses such as tur and urad in the next month. The arrival of a new chana crop in Australia and its availability for import from October 2024 will help maintain availability of chana to consumers at affordable prices," the government said.
