Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, officially launched retail of Bharat Chana Dal Phase II in the Delhi-NCR region today, October 23, 2024. This initiative aims to ensure the availability of essential pulses at affordable prices. The launch event witnessed mobile vans from NCCF, NAFED, and Kendriya Bhandar being flagged off to deliver the products. Ministers of State, B.L. Verma and Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, were also present at the event.
Phase II of the Bharat Chana Dal initiative involves the conversion of 3 lakh tons of Chana from the price stabilization buffer into Chana Dal and Chana Whole. These products are now available for retail at Rs. 70 per kg and Rs. 58 per kg, respectively. The government has also extended its Bharat brand to include other pulses such as Moong and Masur dals. Bharat Moong Dal is priced at Rs. 107 per kg, Moong Sabut at Rs. 93 per kg, and Masur Dal at Rs. 89 per kg. These affordable rates, particularly in the festive season, aim to provide relief to consumers amid fluctuating market prices.
During the launch, Joshi highlighted the government’s dedication to stabilizing food prices and ensuring access to essential goods like rice, atta, dals, and onions. He highlighted the Centre’s direct interventions in the retail market, which have helped maintain a stable pricing environment for basic food items. He also pointed to the government's broader efforts to strengthen the production of pulses. The continuous rise in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of pulses and the unrestricted procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masur for the 2024-25 season demonstrate the government's proactive approach.
The government has also introduced duty-free imports of Tur, Urad, Masur, and Chana until March 2025, along with Yellow Peas until December 2024. These measures are designed to supplement domestic production and ensure a steady supply, which has already led to a declining trend in pulse prices since July 2024. This effort is part of a broader strategy to manage the availability of essential food items and prevent price hikes.
Apart from pulses, the government has been proactive in stabilizing vegetable prices, particularly onions. Through the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED), the government has procured 4.7 lakh tonnes of onions from the Rabi crop to maintain a price stabilization buffer. Since the buffer’s disposal began on September 5, 2024, over 1.15 lakh tonnes of onions have been released into the market.
For the first time, bulk onion transportation by rail rakes has been initiated to accelerate distribution across the country. Recently, 1,600 MT of onions were delivered to Delhi via the Kanda Express from Nashik, while NAFED arranged for 800-840 MT to be transported to Chennai by rail. Additionally, shipments to Lucknow and Varanasi have been scheduled, with further plans to distribute onions to the northeastern states via rail.
These efforts ensure that onions and pulses are accessible to consumers at affordable prices, reducing the financial burden on households across the country.
