States Press Union for Tur and Chana Supplies Amid Rising Pulse Prices
State governments are requesting large quantities of tur and chana from the Union, while the centre aims to keep its buffer stocks to curb retail prices.
State administrations are intensifying demands for government-held tur and chana stocks as retail pulse prices stay elevated. A senior official explained that the centre's role is to retain the buffer for market stabilization, not to allocate it for state welfare schemes. Southern states have each sought more than 100,000 tonnes of tur, a volume the Union says it cannot meet while safeguarding future supplies.
The Consumer Affairs Ministry currently stores roughly 4.5 million tonnes of pulses, with 1.1 million tonnes of tur and 2.3 million tonnes of chana among them. Diminished rainfall and drought-like conditions in major pulse-producing regions threaten tur output, while dry soils could hinder chana sowing for the rabi season. The government previously relaxed the Price Support Scheme disposal timeline and allowed duty-free yellow pea imports, which surged to nearly 2.95 million tonnes in 2024, to ease price pressures.
Why it matters
Pulse shortages and price spikes affect food affordability for millions of Indian households.
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