Pulses import to fall this year

After a record high in 2016-17, import of pulses is expected to lessen this year, up to perhaps 20 per cent.

In FY17, import had risen 19.9 per cent to 5.67 million; the domestic crop was 22.14 mt. Normal annual consumption is 24 mt. However, 2015-16 was a drought year; output was only 16.35 mt. Pravin Dongre, chairman, India Pulses and Grains Association (Ipga), said: “Last year, importers had placed huge orders at the beginning of the sowing season and then had to honour these (when the crop turned out to be better).”

He said a little over half the import (2.93 mt) was of yellow peas (matar), not grown much in India. Chana (brown chickpea) was another big component (880,000 tonnes). When reports of higher crop started coming in, import of tur (split red gram) was reduced.”

India produced 4.23 mt of tur in 2016-17 and import was 447,000 tonnes, a little over 10 per cent of the production, by Ipga data. Two-fifth of that import was in the December quarter; import fell 24 per cent in the next one, with better domestic availability.

Tur is presently below the central government’s Minimum Support Price (MSP); a 10 per cent import duty was imposed on it at end-March. Maharashtra, the largest tur producer, is considering other measures to help farmers. Chana prices have, however, traded above the MSP in most markets. Ipga wants the government to relax the stock limits for pulses and allow export. Dongre said, “These two measures will help farmers to continue sowing, as consumption of pulses is only growing.” Among the reasons, he pointed to rising rural incomes and growth of the fast-food segment.