The Third Meeting of the Inter Ministerial Committee on Prices and Availability of Essential Food Items was held recently. The committee reviewed the current status of the prices and availability of pulses and onions as well as the status regarding arrival of imported pulses and onion, according to a ministerial note of department of food and public distribution.
The committee observed that prices of pulses and onions remained relatively stable over the week. As regards imported Tur Dal, MMTC appraised that the first tranche of 888 MT and 984 MT will arrive at Chennai Port and JNPT, Mumbai soon. The entire consignment of 5000 MT of Tur would be received at the two ports by October 20, 2015. As a firm request for the imported Tur Dal has only been received from Andhra Pradesh, it has been decided that the first tranche of imported Tur Dal arriving at Chennai Port as well as JNPT, Mumbai, may be allocated to them.
With respect to Urad MMTC indicated that 5000 MT of Urad from Myanmar will be received at Chennai and JNPT. Both the ports will receive around 2500 MT each by October 20, 2015. MMTC is in communication with the states who have evinced interest in taking the imported Urad.
The committee also reiterated the need for early finalisation of the long-term strategy for procurement of pulses to help incentivise its production, said the statement.
As regards onion, the committee noted that the arrival of advance crops to the market from Karnataka and Rajasthan has started and that has helped in moderating the price rise.
While as regards to imports of onion, about 1000 MT is expected by first week of October, 2015, and another 1000 MT by second & third week of October, 2015 at JNPT, Mumbai. While another tender for import of 1000 MT of onion has also been floated on September 11, 2015.
