Efforts to Boost Pulses Procurement Amidst Depleting Buffer Stocks

20-Mar-2026 01:36 PM

New Delhi: With the quantity of pulses in the central buffer stock having dropped significantly below the prescribed level, the government is considering accelerating the pace of procurement during the ongoing 2025-26 season.

Supplies of pulses—such as Arhar (Tur), Chana, and Masur—have begun to increase in the agricultural markets (mandis), potentially providing the government with an opportunity to ramp up procurement at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Currently, the government holds a stock of approximately 2.2 million tonnes of pulses, whereas the upper limit for the buffer stock requirement, as mandated by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, stands at 3.5 million tonnes.

Given the current availability of 2.2 million tonnes, the procurement of an additional 1.2 to 1.3 million tonnes of pulses can be undertaken with ease. However, a prerequisite for this is that the market prices of these pulses must fall below the MSP.

The total stock of 2.2 million tonnes of pulses currently held in the central pool comprises approximately 700,000–800,000 tonnes of Moong, 550,000 tonnes of Tur, 400,000 tonnes of Masur, and about 300,000 tonnes of Chana.

The stock of Urad is either very low or negligible, as the government agencies met with only limited success in procuring it during the Kharif season.

According to official sources, the central pool currently holds an ample stock of Moong; this is attributed to the fact that robust production levels—coupled with subdued market prices—provided government agencies with the opportunity to undertake substantial procurement of this pulse.