With half of the area under pulses witnessing a failure during the current sowing season due to lack of rain, India is planning to import 400,000 tonnes of different varieties of pulses in the next three months to meet the deficit.
Indian traders have already imported 373,000 tonnes of yellow peas to meet the rising domestic demand ahead of the festival season. The sensitive commodity, which has hit various Indian ports in the last six days, is under various stages of clearances.
But, the quantity was insufficient to meet the overwhelming domestic demand and hence another 400,000 tonnes of pulses were required to bridge the demand gap, said the Mumbai-based Pulses Importers' Association in a statement on Tuesday.
PIA has also refuted the claims that the quantity lying at Indian ports in the last six days were rotting because of the delay in clearances. S P Goenka, director, U Goenka Sons, a Mumbai-based pulses importer, said, "There could be some quantity lying in government warehouses, but surely not anything with private parties is rotting."
India produces about 11.2 million tonnes of various pulses in kharif and rabi seasons and imports about 3 million tonnes to meet the total demand of 14.5 million tonnes. Sowing of kharif pulses started late this year because of the delay in rain. Lack of moisture led to poor sprouting, Goenka said.
As on August 31, total acreage under kharif oilseed increased by 9.62 per cent to 73.584 lakh hectares (ha) as against 67.122 lakh ha last year. The normal acreage under pulses for the same time is estimated at 111.698 lakh ha.
India imports pulses from various countries, including tur from Tanzania and kabuli chana, urad and yellow peas from Turkey. Neighbouring country Myanmar also supplies various types of pulses.
PIA clarified that the quantity lying currently at various ports includes 13,000 tonnes of yellow peas imported by MMTC, 50,000 tonnes by PEC, and 86,000 tonnes by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed).
It further clarified that approximately 66,000 tonnes of yellow peas were lying at Kolkata and 182,050 tonnes at the Mumbai port. Kakinada, Tuticorin and Vizag ports have stocks of 28,000 tonnes, 89,000 tonnes and 8,000 tonnes, respectively.
The import of 373,000 tonnes represents only 20 per cent of the total import of yellow peas by the country. Meanwhile, MMTC has issued an import tender for 21,000 tonnes of pulses or lentils for delivery in September-November.
The tender includes bids for 12,000 tonnes of pigeon peas or tur and 3,000 tonnes each of urad, chickpea and red lentils, according to the company website. The bids will close on August 11.
Tur prices surged over 50 per cent in the last two months to hit Rs 90-100 a kg in the spot trade. Chana, that follows other pulses, has jumped 4 per cent so far this month to Rs 2,407.5 a quintal in Mumbai.
