After grain in the country, now the stage is set to increase the production of pulses to reduce imports

- Ubhi Bazar ઃ Dilip Shah

- India's importers now look to Black Sea countries as reliance on Canada and Australia increases in lentils

After the green revolution in the country, there was a spectacular increase in the production of grains like wheat and rice, which led to a decline in the dependence on imports for the supply of such grains and in the subsequent period we were able to export grains. However, in terms of supply of pulses and pulses, we have not yet become so self-sufficient, said pulses market sources. "Although the production of various pulses has increased in the country in recent years, we are still relying on imported pulses to meet the growing demand," the sources said. The government has recently come up with a big plan to increase the domestic production of palm oil by increasing the cultivation of palm oil to reduce the dependence on imports of edible oils. However, there have been previous attempts to develop home-grown palm cultivation and now there is a resurgence in this direction. Although the area under pulses has increased in the country, in fact it is equally necessary to increase the production of pulses per hectare. Market per capita production of pulses in India has been significantly lower than that of global pulses, market experts said.

Meanwhile, according to pulse importer circles, lentils are mainly imported from Canada and Australia and we have become overly dependent on these two countries, especially lentils. To prevent such over-dependence, we should increase imports of such lentils from Black-Sea countries, the importers said. Such Black-Sea countries include Russia, Kazakhstan etc. The government needs to pay special attention to increase imports from these countries. Recently, the government has eased restrictions on imports of such pulses and reduced import duty on lentils to increase supply and reduce prices of tur, mug, urad etc. However, there was talk in the market that prices had gone up in the world market as India reduced the duty.

The government has earlier taken steps like stock limits to control pulses prices in the country. Chickpea futures also came under control. However, government figures estimating demand and supply of pulses have been contradictory. According to government estimates, the annual demand for pulses in the country is about 3 lakh tonnes and domestic production is about 4 lakh tonnes. If so then why do we have to import? Such a question has been heard in the market. According to government estimates, lentils have a domestic production of about 1.5 million tonnes, while veteran market experts put the figure at 1 million tonnes. However, the government itself is admitting that consumption in lentils in the country is more than domestic production (about 3 million tonnes). Excessive heat in Canada has also recently affected lentil crops. Meanwhile, the central government has procured about 1.5 million tonnes of pulses and oilseeds this year. The government has spent about Rs 500 to 700 crore for this. Such purchases have been made at support prices. Recently, the central government has approved the purchase of about 50,000 tonnes of pulses in Karnataka. Such a purchase is to be made by NAFED. In Karnataka, new revenue is looming. Meanwhile, the government has recently extended the deadline for import of Tuwer, Adad etc. to January 31, 207. Importers will be able to bring their such consignments to the country by the end of January. Meanwhile, in Karnataka, despite the uncertainty of rainfall this year, there have been reports of a slight increase in the area under Tuvar, Mug, Adad etc. Such area has increased by about two per cent. Delays in mug planting in Rajasthan this year are feared to adversely affect the crop. While in Karnataka and Maharashtra, the possibility of heavy rains affecting the quality of the new Adad is also being discussed in the market. Experts are predicting that more rains in Karnataka will also hit the new crop of Tuvar. Augusts in Rajasthan had dry weather and the possibility of an impact on mug production there has been discussed in the market. More rains also increase the chances of pests in the crop.