New Delhi keen to ink pact with South Africa to import pulses; urges China to push up imports

India is working on an agreement with South Africa to import pulses to meet its domestic consumption requirements and curb price rise.

South Africa had sent a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) to the Indian government regarding procurement of pulses and lentil (masoor dal). It also urged neighbouring China, part of the five-nation BRICS grouping to import a wide range of items from it such as rice, sugar, maize and dried grapes.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today met his South African counterpart Senzeni Zokwana and Chinese counterpart Qui Dongyu on the sidelines of the BRICS agri-meet.

"We have received a draft of the MoU on procurement of pulses from South Africa. The MoU has been slightly revised and sent to your High Commission in New Delhi. We hope that the MoU is finalised soon and ready for signature," Singh said in a statement.

The MoU focuses on procurement of pulses and lentil form South Africa as well has enhancing production of pulses, he said.