Imported pulses to reach India this week; onions next month

Imported pulses will start arriving in India from Wednesday, while onions from the first week of October, which will help boost domestic supplies of the two commodities and check their rising retail prices.
However, the first consignment of imported urad dal will reach by October 20.
In an inter-ministerial committee meeting, MMTC, which had floated the tender to import 5,000 tonnes of Tur dal, informed that the first tranche of over 1,800 tonnes will arrive at the ports on September 23 and 24.
The committee reviews the prices and availability of essential food items in the country.
"MMTC appraised that the first tranche of 888 MT and 984 MT will arrive at Chennai Port and JNPT, Mumbai on 23rd September, 2015 and 24th September, 2015 respectively," Food Ministry said in a statement.

The entire consignment of 5,000 tonnes of Tur would be received at these two ports by October 20.

The committee also decided that as a firm request for the imported Tur Dal has only been received from Andhra Pradesh, the first tranche may be allocated to that state.
With respect to Urad, MMTC indicated that 5,000 tonnes of Urad from Myanmar will also be received at the Chennai and JNPT.
"Both ports will receive around 2,500 tonnes each by 20th October, 2015. MMTC is in communication with the states who have evinced interest in taking the imported Urad," it added.

During the meeting, it was informed that about 1,000 tonnes are expected to reach JNPT in Mumbai by first week of October and another 1,000 tonnes by second and third week of the month.
The Committee also reiterated the need for early finalisation of the long term strategy for procurement of pulses to help incentivise its production.
In the meeting, it was also discussed that the arrival of advance crop of onion in markets of Karnataka and Rajasthan has started which has helped in moderating the price rise.
MMTC had also floated a tender for import of additional 1,000 tonnes of onion on September 11 and the bid would be opened on September 18.

The Committee observed that prices of pulses and onions remained relatively stable over the week.
Prices of both pulses and onions have risen unabated in the last few weeks due to fall in domestic production. Barring chana dal, prices of all other pulses have gone up to Rs 150 per kg in most retail markets.
Similarly, retail prices of onion are continuing to rule high at Rs 70/kg in Delhi and the same trend prevails in other parts of the country.