Department of Consumer Affairs reviews Government’s buffer stock position along with prices and availability of Onions and Pulses

New Delhi: The Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Shri Avinash K Srivastava today chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee to review Government’s buffer stock position along with the prices and availability of Onions and Pulses across the country. The meeting was attended by representatives of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, NAFED, Mother Dairy, Kendriya Bhandar, Representative of Delhi Government and senior officials of the Department of Consumer Affairs. The following decisions/suggestions were made:

• It was informed by representatives of Ministry of Agriculture that after a brief disruption of about 2-3 days during Diwali in arrival of Kharif Onions mainly due to closing of major mandis in Maharashtra, Onion arrivals have again resumed in the mandis of Delhi. Further, arrivals are expected to increase in the coming days which will augment supplies and reduce prices.
• NAFED was directed to continue supply of Onions from the central buffer to Mother Dairy for retailing through their Safal outlets.
• NAFED was also directed to supply Onions to Delhi Government and other States/UTs as per their demand.
• NAFED was directed to undertake disposal of Pulses from the central buffer through States Governments and open market auctions.
• Delhi Govt. and other State Governments/ UTs are again being asked to retail Tur (whole/ milled in packaged form) out of the central buffer at reasonable prices to the consumers of their respective States/ UTs.
• Kendriya Bhandar, NCCF and Mother Dairy to retail Tur in either whole or milled form out of the central buffer in half and one kg packs at reasonable rates.
• NAFED was advised to take immediate steps for upgrading/modernizing its processing & milling facilities for pulses across the country.