India is likely to import 2.75-2.80 million tonnes of pulses in the current financial year, slightly higher compared with last year's 2.6 million tonnes, Mr Rajiv Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, said today.
During April-December, 2.4 million tonnes of pulses have been imported, a tad up compared with last year's imports of 2.25 million tonnes, Mr Agarwal said on the sidelines of a three-day global pulses conference in Mumbai.
Pulses imported so far include 1 million tonne yellow peas. The rest include black matpe or urad, pigeon pea or tur and gram or chana.
The country currently has record stocks of yellow peas. “There are over 500,000 tonnes of yellow peas in four ports,” said Mr Pravin Dongre, President, India Pulses and Grains Association.
After a record crop of pulses last year, India is poised for an output of 17.4 million tonnes, according to the second advance estimates of the government.
Last year, the country's final pulses production was a record 18.2 million tonnes.
Of the 17.4 million tonnes output estimated, gram or chana accounts for 7.66 million tonnes. This compares with 8.22 million tonnes produced last year.
“Climatically, this is a good year. Chana figures may improve,” Mr Agarwal said.
According to him, demand for pulses could be slightly lower because of a huge potato crop. Demand for pulses is largely price elastic.
Wheat crop is also expected to be a bumper crop at 88.31 million tonnes, he said. Last year, wheat output was 86.87 million tonnes.
According to Mr Agarwal, the Government is likely to introduce the amendment bill of Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act in the Budget session of the Parliament.