New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved a Rs 1,200 crore scheme for disposal of gram at a concessional rate to the states, which will be used for various welfare schemes from the stock of pulses procured under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) and Price Stabilization Fund (PSF).
The Committee also approved to increase the quantum of purchase in respect of Arhar, Urad and Masoor Dal from the existing 25% to 40% under PSS.
Under this approved scheme, states are offered to lift 15 lakh metric tonnes of gram at a discount of 8 per kg at the issue price of the sourcing state on first come-first served basis. States use these pulses in their various welfare schemes or programs like mid-day meal, public distribution system and integrated child development programmes.
This will be a one-time exemption for a period of 12 months or till the complete disposal of 15 lakh MT stock of Chana, whichever is earlier.
The government said the decisions would also help states to provide godown space, which may be required to accommodate fresh stock procured under the price support scheme in the upcoming rabi season, thereby making farmers remunerative for pulses. It will help to get the price. And encourage more and more farmers to grow such pulses by investing more and help them to get remunerative price for their produce.
Apart from this, it also helps in achieving self-sufficiency of such pulses in our country, the government said.
In recent times, the country has witnessed an all-time high production of gram under the price support scheme, especially during the last three years.
The government has made record procurement of gram during Rabi 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22. With this, 30.55 lakh metric tonnes of gram is available with the government under PSS and PSF. Chana production is expected to be good in the coming Rabi season also.
Simultaneously with the increase in MSP for gram during 22-23, additional purchases would be required under PSS.
The cabinet separately approved the proposal of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to sign an MoU with the Government of Nepal on Biodiversity Conservation. The government said the MoU aims to strengthen coordination and cooperation in the fields of forest, wildlife, environment, biodiversity conservation and climate change, including restoration of corridors and interlinking areas, and sharing of knowledge and best practices between the two countries. in a statement on Wednesday.
The MoU will help promote cooperation between the parties in the fields of forest, wildlife, environment, biodiversity conservation and climate change, including restoration of corridors and connecting regions, and sharing of knowledge and best practices.
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