India logs 3.52 lakh tonnes of pulses import

The government has so far purchased 3.52 lakh tonnes of pulses from the global market, which is in tune with its plan to import 15 lakh tonnes to meet the domestic demand during this financial year.

The public sector agencies – MMTC, STC and PEC – and cooperative major Nafed have placed an order for 9.24 lakh tonnes of pulses, of which 3.52 lakh tonnes have already reached Indian ports as on October 23, a senior government official said. PEC has received 91,940 tonnes of pulses, MMTC 69,747 tonnes, Nafed 20,996 tonnes and STC 16,664 tonnes, he said, adding out of this, 72,796 tonnes have been sold in the domestic market.

The government has a stock of 2.79 lakh tonnes of imported pulses bought through these agencies. India imports pulses as output is lower than the demand. The country is estimated to have produced 151 lakh tonnes of pulses in the 2007-08 crop year, while the domestic demand is around 170-180 lakh tonnes.

India imports sizeable quantities of pulses, including chick peas, dry bean, lentils and dry peas, besides tur, urad and moong, from Canada, Australia, the US and Myanmar.