The Hindu Business Line : Myanmar cyclone causes delay in imported pulses

NEW DELHI: The cyclone in Myanmar has caused a delay in arrival of imported pulses in the country by 15-20 days, but it would not lead to any major impact on the price situation, Pulses Importers Association said.

"There would be a delay in shipments by 15-20 days because of cyclone in Myanmar," said the association's president Mr K C Bhartiya.

Mr Bhartiya said about 50,000 tons of imported pulses were in pipeline. He, however, ruled out any major impact on the prices in the domestic market due to the delay.

He noted that there has been no damage to the pulses crop in Myanmar, where more than 60,000 people have reportedly died in the calamity that struck last week.

India imported 2.5-3 million tons of pulses in 2007-08, of which about 1.5 million tons were from Myanmar, he said.

Pulses import is estimated to remain in the same range during the current financial year, Mr Bhartiya said. When asked about situation in the domestic market, he pointed out that importers are facing problems in liquidating their stocks because of stock limits imposed by many states. He urged the Government to free imported goods from the purview of stock limits.

Mr Bhartiya noted that farmers and importers need to be protected as they supply pulses in the domestic market. He demanded that Government increase the minimum support price of pulses to avoid distress sale by farmers.

According to the Government's third advance estimate, pulses production is pegged at 15.19 million tons in 2007-08 against the estimated domestic requirement of 16.77 million tons. - PTI

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