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The Centre will receive 5,000 tonnes of tur (arhar) and urad pulses imports by October 20 to help ease prices of the key pulse by improving the supply situation of the key protein source in the country.
The MMTC has also been advised to float a tender for milling the imported pulses after States indicated their inability to process unmilled pulses.
Two shipments of 2,500 tonnes will arrive at the Chennai and JNPT ports in different tranches beginning September 23, the Consumer Affairs Ministry informed on Monday.
“On pulses, MMTC apprised that 2,500 tonnes of the imported tur will arrive in three tranches at Chennai port and similar quantity of around 2,500 tonnes will arrive at JNPT in four tranches beginning September 23,” said an official statement.
The MMTC had floated the tender for tur procurement on September 11 and the bid has an opening date of September 21. Tur is mainly imported from Myanmar and African nations like Tanzania, Mozambique and Malawi.
“The entire consignment of 5,000 tonnes of tur would be received at the two ports by October 20. To further improve the availability, import of additional 5,000 tonnes has also been approved,” the statement added.
The shipments of urad from Myanmar will reach both ports by the same date.
Typically, India produces about 18-19 million tonnes (mt) of pulses each year and imports about 3-4 million tonnes (mt) to meet domestic demand.
Average retail price of tur was Rs.132/kg in the Capital on Monday, up 48 per cent from six months ago (Rs.89/kg) and 61 per cent from a year ago (Rs.82/kg).
Similarly, urad prices are at Rs.112/kg, up nearly 37 per cent from a year ago (Rs.82/kg).
With regard to onion imports, around 1,000 tonnes is expected at JNPT by the first week of October and another 1,000 tonnes over the following two weeks of the same month.
A tender for the import of 1,000 tonnes had been floated earlier on September 11 and bids will open on September 18.
Average retail prices of the staple continue to rule at around Rs.60/kg on Monday, nearly 94 per cent higher than 6 months ago (Rs.31/kg) and 87.5 per cent from a year ago (Rs.32/kg).
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