India inks MoU with Mozambique to import 3.75lakh tonne pulses

India has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mozambique to import 3,75,000 tonnes of pulses during 2016-19, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

"The government has signed an MoU with the government of Mozambique, which fixes targets of minimum quantities of import of tur and other pulses from Mozambique over three financial years," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

In 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19, the quantity signed is 1 lakh tonnes, 1,25,000 tonnes and 1,50,000 tonnes, respectively.

India imported pulses worth $3.90 billion in 2015-16 as against $2.78 billion in the previous financial year.

In quantity terms, pulse imports in 2015-16 stood at 57.97 lakh tonnes as against 45.85 lakh tonnes in 2014-15.

Similarly, the country imported edible oil worth $10.48 billion last financial year. In volume terms, it was 156.39 lakh tonnes.

Last month, the Union Cabinet approved doubling of import of tur and other dals from Mozambique to 2 lakh tonnes per annum in the next five years.

Pulse production fell to 17.06 million tonnes in the 2015-16 crop year (July-June), from 17.15 million tonnes in the previous year. In 2013-14, output was over 19 million tonnes.

The minister said the government has taken several steps to ramp up production of pulses and oil seeds and reduce dependency on imports.