Government has hired a consultant to advise it on engaging a professional agency for efficient management of buffer stock of pulses that is being created for use in times of price rise.
"We have hired a consultant to advise us on this. If we do it ourself, it will take time. The consultant will process and suggest us," Consumer Affairs Secretary Hem Pande said.
"It could be a private or public agency. It could be a public-private enterprise. However, a final call on this issue will be taken by the Price Stabilisation Fund Management Committee," he said.
Against the target of 20 lakh tonnes pulses, the government has so far built a buffer stock of 10 lakh tonnes, procuring directly from domestic growers as well as through imports. The procurement is still going on.
As of now, three agencies –FCI, Nafed and SFAC –are empowered to buy pulses from farmers, while two trading agencies including MMTC engage in imports.