Route cleared for pulses from Mozambique

Pulses to be imported either through private channels or through state agencies

The Cabinet on Tuesday cleared a proposal to enter into an agreement with Mozambique for import of 100,000 tonnes of pulses in 2016-17. The decision comes just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to African nations. The proposal also has an option to scale the import up to 200,000 tonnes by 2020-2021.

The agreement will promote production of pigeon peas or tur in Mozambique by encouraging progressive increase in trading. The pulses would be imported either through private channels or through state agencies, an official statement issued after the Cabinet meeting said.

The pact will augment domestic availability of pulses in India and thereby stabilise its prices.
 

India’s pulses production during 2015-16 was estimated to be 17 million tonnes, while 5.79 million tonnes of pulses were imported to meet domestic requirement.

However, availability was less than requirement, putting pressure on the prices of pulses during 2015-16 and the current year. To mitigate the shortfall, the government had decided to enter into long-term government-to-government contracts with countries like Mozambique to ensure assured availability of pulses. Mozambique was one of the countries identified by the Centre. Recently, a high-level team led by Consumer Affairs Secretary Hem Pande had visited the African nation to explore the possibility of leasing land for cultivation and also long-term import of pulses.

Prices had risen in the recent times due to a shortfall of more than seven million tonnes.

The government had taken several steps to control prices of pulses, including enhancing buffer stock to 800,000 tonnes from 150,000 tonnes, increasing imports, barring launch of any fresh future contracts in chana and directing enforcement agencies to act against hoarders.