New Delhi: Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, today launched the retail distribution of Bharat Chana Dal Phase-II in Delhi-NCR. The event was marked by the flagging off of mobile vans from NCCF, NAFED, and Kendriya Bhandar, in the presence of Ministers of State B.L. Verma and Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya.
Phase-II of Bharat Chana Dal involves the conversion of 3 lakh tons of Chana stock from the price stabilisation buffer into Chana Dal and Chana Whole for retail sale at affordable prices. The Chana Dal is priced at Rs.70 per kg, while Chana Whole is available at Rs.58 per kg. Additionally, the Bharat brand now includes Moong and Masur Dals, with Bharat Moong Dal priced at Rs.107 per kg, Bharat Moong Sabut at Rs.93 per kg, and Bharat Masur Dal at Rs.89 per kg. The resumption of Bharat Chana Dal aims to ensure adequate supplies for Delhi-NCR consumers, especially during the festive season.
During the launch, Pralhad Joshi emphasized the government’s commitment to providing essential food items at affordable prices. “This initiative reaffirms our dedication to ensuring the availability of staple foods such as rice, atta, dals, and onions at stable prices,” he said.
In support of domestic pulse production, the government has raised the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of pulses and has announced the procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masur without ceilings for the 2024-25 season. Awareness campaigns, seed distribution, and pre-registration for assured procurement were conducted during the Kharif 2024-25 sowing season, with similar efforts ongoing for the upcoming Rabi season. To further stabilize prices, the government has allowed duty-free imports of various pulses, including Tur, Urad, Masur, and Chana, until March 2025, and Yellow Peas until December 2024.
The prices of pulses, including Tur Dal, Urad Dal, Moong Dal, and Masur Dal, have remained stable or declined in recent months due to a combination of increased domestic production and steady imports.
The government has also taken steps to stabilize vegetable prices, notably onions, through the procurement of 4.7 lakh tonnes from the Rabi crop for the price stabilisation buffer. As of September 5, 2024, 1.15 lakh tonnes of onions have been disposed of, with NCCF and NAFED leading the distribution across multiple states. For the first time, bulk transportation of onions by rail has been implemented, with 1,600 MT of onions transported to Delhi via the Kanda Express from Nashik on October 20, 2024. Additional shipments have been sent to Chennai, with more planned for Lucknow and Varanasi.
The government is also coordinating with Indian Railways to transport onions to the northeastern regions of India, ensuring wider availability and affordable prices for consumers across the country.