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Government is taking all steps to bridge the gap between demand and supply in pulses though their production has not decreased. Replying to questions in the Rajya Sabha, the minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution Sharad Pawar said pulses are being imported to meet the gap.
He said government will bear 15 per cent of any loss suffered by the Public Sector Undertakings while importing pulses. He said the retail prices of essential commodities are showing a declining trend over the past six months in the case of rice, wheat, atta, and pulses.
He added prices of sugar have come down from 45 rupees to 30 rupees a kilo in the last few months. The minister said in the medium term, the government has taken initiatives such as the National Food Security Mission, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana to improve production and productivity in agriculture.
Mr Pawar said the increase in cost of milk production is largely due to increase in prices of cattle feed and fodder in last one year. The minister also said corrective measures taken by the government to contain food inflation.
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