Govt may import pulses after 2-yr gap to check prices

The government is considering importing pulses through state-owned trading firms such as the MMTC to boost domestic supply and check rising retail price.

The Consumer Affairs Ministry is looking at the option of pulses imports in view of forecast of below-normal monsoon and possible fall in production in Australia and Canada, a senior government official said.

India produces 18-19 million tonnes of pulses annually but has to import 3-4 million tonnes to meet the domestic demand. Imports in the last two years were mainly via the private trade.

Pulses prices have gone up in the retail markets. Tur (arhar) prices is currently ruling at Rs 108 per kg in the national capital, up from Rs 83 per kg as on January 8, 2015.

Similarly, rates of gram dal have gone up to Rs 68 per kg from Rs 54, while those of masoor dal to Rs 94 from Rs 84 per kg in the review period. Moong is being sold at Rs 107 per kg now, as against Rs 98 per kg on January 8.

"We are keeping a close watch on prices and planning in advance for imports. We are doing this exercise as there are are reports of possible production fall in Canada and Australia and its impact on global prices," a senior government official told PTI.

The ministry is thinking to take measures in advance to boost domestic availability of pulses, which are largely grown in rainfed areas, the official said, adding that any deficiency in monsoon rains could have an adverse impact on production of moong, urad and tur as well as their prices.

The ministry would soon take a call on the import issue as India needs to look at other countries like Ethiopia and Tanzania for pulses imports in the wake of expected drop in output in Canada and Australia, the official said.

On prices, the official said: "There is no concern as such now. We are planning in advance so that systems are place to enable timely intervention to boost supply through imports."

The Centre did not import pulses through PSUs such as MMTC, STC and PEC during the last two financial years.

In its latest report, Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had pulled up the government for lack of long term policy for attaining self-sufficiency in pulses and advance planning for import.

The country's import of pulses through private trade stood at 3 million tonnes in the 2013-14 fiscal, while that of 3.4 million tonnes in 2014-15 fiscal, as per official data.

Pulses production is estimated to have declined to 18.43 million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) from 19.78 million tonnes in the previous year.