Argentine cos keen to grow pulses for export to India

The government today said some Argentina-based companies have expressed interest to cultivate pulses that could be exported to India, which is the world's largest importer of pulses.

In a recent meeting with Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, "some Argentine companies had shown interest in growing pulses for export to India in the future," according to the official statement.

At present, India imports 3-4 million tonnes of pulses to meet its domestic shortages. Pulses production has been stagnant at 14-15 million tonnes in the last few years, while the demand remained at 17-18 million tonnes.
    
The minister was on a trip to three Latin American countries, including Brazil, last week. Pawar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Argentine Agriculture Minister Julian Andres Dominguez to extend cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sector, the statement said.
    
The Agriculture Ministry also said companies in India and Argentina have shown interest to invest in agri business.
     
For instance, the Argentina company Vassali is in touch with tractors manufacturer Sonalika to assemble harvesters in India. Similarly, fertiliser cooperative major IFFCO is exploring the possibility of setting up a fertiliser plant in Argentina using natural gas as the raw material, it said.
     
Currently, 14 Indian companies have invested about one billion dollars in IT, agrochemicals, steel, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics in Argentina, it added.