Govt imports 37,000 tonne of pulses from Myanmar

India has contracted to import 37,000 tonnes of pulses from Myanmar on a government-to-government basis and the commodities are likely to arrive at Indian ports next month. 

"The contract for import of 30,000 tonnes of black matpe (urad) and 7,000 tonnes of pigeon peas (tur) has been finalised and these pulses would arrive here in May," a top government official told reporters here today. 

This import has been finalised by STC on behalf of the government as both India and Myanmar have agreed to pulses trade on a government-to-government basis, he added.

The entire quantity of tur would come in May, while urad would arrive in two tranches, the official said.

Last year, a delegation of Indian officials had visited Myanmar to finalise an agreement with that country's government for importing pulses on a government-to-government basis. STC is the nodal agency for this purpose. 

Under the government-to-government import, the risk of price escalation is minimised as India has agreed to pay the market rate for the pulses instead of floating tender, an expert said. 

Since the government of Myanmar is the supplier, it has to export the pulses at a particular price, agreed by both the countries, he said, adding India imports mainly tur, urad and rajmah from the neighbour.