Government has contracted import of Eight thousand Five Hundred tonnes of pulses and the shipments are on the way. The pulses procurement for buffer stock has also surpassed the target of 50 thousand tonnes set for this kharif season. Consumer Affairs Secretary C Viswanath today reviewed the prices and availability of essential commodities at an inter ministerial meeting in New Delhi. According to an official release, consumer affairs, agriculture and commerce ministries now have been asked to start procurement of masoor, gram dal and other rabi pulses.
During the meeting, the representative of the agriculture ministry said the area under oilseed production in 2015-16 rose by 2.1 per cent and mustard output is expected to be higher by 6 lakh tonnes. The meeting also reviewed production of tomato in the country and its price trends. Tomato output is also expected to increase by 11.6 per cent in 2015-16.
