Govt seeks Parliament OK to spend 5 billion rupees on pulses procurement.

The government sought Parliament approval to provide 5 billion rupees for procurement of pulses under the Price Stabilisation Fund. The approval for the additional amount was sought in the First Batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants tabled in Lok Sabha. The government started procurement of legume crops through state and centre-run government agencies to buoy falling prices and help farmers. Last year, the government procured pulses to create a buffer stock of 2 million tonne and to bring down soaring prices. However, a bumper crop subsequently led to a steep fall in prices, prompting the government to intervene and initiate procurement to support the prices.