Increasing import of pulses
19-Oct-2024 12:40 PM
In view of the sharp rise in the prices of various pulses due to the complex supply and availability situation in the domestic sector and the regular increase in demand and consumption, the Central Government was forced to encourage its import from abroad.
Under this, first the import of tur (tuvar), urad and lentils was made duty free till 31 March 2025 and then duty free import of yellow peas was allowed in December 2023 and Desi gram in May 2024.
The deadline for import of yellow peas has been fixed as 31 December 2024. The result of this decision was what was expected.
The major exporting countries of pulses are getting the benefit of the liberal import policy of the Government of India.
There is a strong increase in the import of pulses in the country and especially Tuvar, Urad and Desi Chana, but the pace of import of lentils is somewhat slow because last year a huge quantity of it was imported and government agencies had made a huge stock by buying it in large quantities from indigenous farmers as well as importers.
This stock is still present with them. In recent months, along with lentils, the import of yellow peas has also decreased and its domestic market price has remained almost stable in a certain range.
There is no significant increase in the prices of lentils, while the price of Tuvar and Urad has come down a bit compared to its peak level.
The supply of Urad and Moong for Kharif season has started, while the arrival of new Tuvar goods will start from December.
It is being imported in large quantities from Myanmar and African countries. In comparison to last year, during the first half of the current financial year, the import of tur is estimated to have jumped from 2.74 lakh tons to 6.09 lakh tons and the import of urad is estimated to have increased from 2.40 lakh tons to 4.08 lakh tons.
Similarly, the import of Desi Chana also jumped from 11 thousand tons to 1.03 lakh tons, but the import of lentils is likely to fall from 8.02 lakh tons to 3.85 lakh tons.
Its export performance is likely to be even weaker in the coming time because in view of the deteriorating relations with Canada, Indian importers have started giving priority to the import of lentils from Australia.
During the half year under review, the amount spent on the import of pulses also jumped 73 percent from $ 1.265 billion to $ 2.187 billion. Imports are expected to decrease slightly in the second half.