Government steps up measures to rein in food prices

NEW DELHI: The government on Friday stepped up measures to check the prices of food items and increase their availability as it removed all restrictions for import of yellow peas till March 2024 and announced a 50% reduction in the stock of wheat that wholesalers, retailers and big chains can hold at any given time.

It also announced its plan to offload additional 25 million tonnes of FCI wheat in the open market.

With this decision, import of almost all pulses is free and this comes at a time amid concerns over the fall in tur dal production and progressive sowing of chana during the rabi season compared to last year, though the government is "comfortable" with the stock of chana, moong and masur. The government also imposed a ban onion export till March 2024.

Till now the import of yellow peas was restricted and Rs 200 per kg was the minimum import price, and shipments were allowed only through Kolkata port. There has been no import since 2019 due to high import prices. The traders will get 30 days to reduce the stock to the revised limits.


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