Pulses import via private traders dips by 18% so far

Import of pulses via private traders has dipped by about 18 per cent to 2.2 million tonnes in 2011-12 so far due to record domestic production last year, an industry body said.

India, the world’s largest importer and consumer of pulses, had imported 2.7 million tonnes of lentils in the same period of 2010-11, it said.

“We have imported 2.2 million tonnes till November of this fiscal, slightly lower than last year,” India Pulses and Grain Association President Mr Pravin Dongre told PTI.

The volume of shipments has declined because the country produced a record 18.09 million tonnes of pulses in 2010-11 crop year (July-June), he said.

Of the total imports, the maximum was yellow peas at 1 million tonnes and the rest was tur, urad, moong and chana, he added.

According to the association, the country’s pulses imports this fiscal are seen to be marginally lower than last year’s level of three million tonnes.

Asked whether rupee depreciation would affect pulses imports, Dongre said, “Rupee has devalued by 18 per cent since August. This would make imports costlier by 10-15 per cent.”

He noted that there could be some impact on domestic prices as 20 per cent of total consumption of 17-18 million tonnes is met through imports.

Some quantity of pulses is also imported through state-run agencies like MMTC, STC and PEC.

On progress of sowing of pulses in the ongoing rabi (winter) season of the 2011-12 crop year, Mr Dongre said the government is looking to increase rabi acreage as kharif (summer) output of lentils is expected to be lower.

“If acreage does not catch up, we will see some shortfall of pulses this year,” he noted.

According to official data, area under pulses in the rabi season has risen to 11.41 million hectare as on December 2, as against 11.14 million hectare in the same period last year.

COMMENT NOW