Kolkata, Jul 7 (IANS): Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Hansraj Gangaram Ahir on Monday said his ministry may consider leveraging skills and suggestions from academic councils like The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI) to address key economic problems.

"We need to ask for suggestions from bodies like ICAI to further industry and address key economic issues. I am considering accommodating suggestions from them," he said at an event organised by ICAI, citing the recent pulse production and pricing issue.

"If the prices of pulses shoot up, it is good for the farmer while the poorer section of the society suffers and it is vice versa. We can't ignore either the farmers' or the poor man's woes. It is here that we need the academia to step in," he said.

The minister said poor families in the country are dependant on a protein-rich pulse diet and any fluctuation in its prices creates a huge imbalance for them.

The Indian Council for Agricultural Research has stated that sufficient rains are required this week to save pulses, oilseeds and cotton crops in rain-fed areas of central and southern India while good spells of rains are also stated to be necessary for completion of the remaining 70 percent of sowing of kharif crops in many parts of the country.