Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & New and Renewable Energy, Mr. Pralhad Joshi, launched the retail phase of Bharat Chana Dal Phase – II in Delhi-NCR, flagging off mobile vans from the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED), and Kendriya Bhandar. This phase will convert three lakh tons of Chana stock from the price stabilisation buffer into Chana Dal and Chana Whole for retail sale at MRP of US$ 0.83 (Rs.70) per kg and US$ 0.69 (Rs.58) per kg, respectively. The Bharat brand has also been expanded to include Moong and Masur Dals, with prices set at US$ 1.27 (Rs.107) per kg for Bharat Moong Dal, US$ 1.11 (Rs.93) per kg for Bharat Moong Sabut, and US$ 1.06 (Rs.89) per kg for Bharat Masur Dal. The resumption of Bharat Chana Dal during this festive season aims to enhance the supply of consumers in Delhi-NCR.
During the launch, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing essential food items at affordable prices. Direct interventions, such as retail sales of rice, atta, dals, and onions, have contributed to maintaining price stability. To promote domestic pulse production, the government has consistently raised the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and announced a no-ceiling procurement policy for Tur, Urad, and Masur for the 2024-25 season. Additionally, the government has allowed duty-free imports of pulses until March 31, 2025, aiding domestic production and ensuring a steady supply. As for vegetables, the government procured 4.7 lakh tonnes of onions for the price stabilisation buffer, with 1.15 lakh tonnes already disposed of. The use of rail transport for onion disposal has been initiated to enhance efficiency, ensuring wider availability at reasonable prices across various regions in India.
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