Record pulses buffer to act as shield against El Nino, says govt official

New Delhi: The government's record pulses buffer of 43 lakh tonnes will serve as a strategic cushion against any supply disruption or price flare-up triggered by a likely El Nino weather phenomenon, a top government official said on Thursday.

"We don't have to dispose it of now. If there is an El Nino effect and it impacts kharif sowing, this buffer stock of pulses will be used," Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare told PTI on the sidelines of a FICCI event.

The current buffer stock of pulses is more than double the 18 lakh tonnes held in May 2025, and significantly higher than the 21 lakh tonnes recorded in May 2024, according to government data.


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The sharp build-up has been driven by the Centre's assured procurement policy, which was introduced to encourage domestic production, reduce import dependence, and shield consumers from price volatility.

The official allayed concerns over storage and disposal, noting that pulses are non-perishable and can be safely stored for two to three years.

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The India Meteorological Department has forecast a below-normal southwest monsoon (June-September) and flagged the likelihood of El Nino developing in the coming months. The agriculture ministry has already begun drawing up contingency plans to mitigate the phenomenon's impact on kharif (summer) crops.