Bharat Dal

Why is in news? Shri Piyush Goyal launches sale of subsidised Chana Dal under the brand name ‘Bharat Dal’ for Rs 60 per kg for one kg pack and Rs 55 per kg for 30 kg pack

The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Textiles and Commerce and Industry launched the sale of subsidised Chana Dal under the brand name ‘Bharat Dal’ at the rate of Rs 60 per kg for one kg pack and Rs 55 per kg for 30 kg pack.

The retail outlets of National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) in Delhi-NCR are selling the chana dal.

The introduction of ‘Bharat Dal’ is a major step taken by the Centre Government towards making pulses available to consumers at affordable prices by converting chana stock of the government into chana dal.

The milling and packaging of the Chana Dal is undertaken by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) for distribution through its retail outlets in Delhi-NCR and also through the outlets of NCCF, Kendriya Bhandar and Safal.

The chana dal, under this arrangement, is also made available to state governments for supplies under their welfare schemes, police, jails, and also for distribution through their Consumer Cooperative outlets.

Chana is the most abundantly produced pulse in India and consumed in several forms all over the India. Chana whole is soaked and boiled to make salad and roasted chana is served as snacks.

Fried chana dal can also be used as alternative to tur dal, curries and soups. Chana besan is a major raw material for namkeens and sweets.

Chana has multiple nutritional health benefits as it is rich in fibre, iron, potassium, vitamin B, selenium beta carotene and choline which are required by human body for controlling anaemia, blood sugar, bone health etc. and even for mental health.

National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED):

National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) is an apex organization of marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce in India, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd, Official website.

It was founded on 2 October 1958 to promote the trade of agricultural produce and forest resources across the nation.

It is registered under Multi State Co-operative Societies Act.

NAFED is now one of the largest procurement as well as marketing agencies for agricultural products in India.

With its headquarters in New Delhi, NAFED has four regional offices at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, apart from 28 zonal offices in capitals of states and important cities.

NAFED is the nodal agency to implement price stabilization measures under "Operation Greens" which aims to double the farmers' income.

NAFED along with FCI with proactive role of state governments also physically procures oilseeds, pulses and copra under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) which in turn is under the umbrella scheme of PM-AASHA.

In 2008, it established, National Spot Exchange, a Commodities exchange as a joint venture of Financial Technologies (India) Ltd. (FTIL).