India, Myanmar discussing procurement of pulses

Faced with shortage of pulses and increasing prices, the government today said it is negotiating a long-term arrangement for procurement of lentils from Myanmar.
Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was recently in Myanmar, said talks are going very well on government-to-government import of pulses.
She said that India imports from various countries as the country produces far lesser than what it consumes.
"Anticipating the requirements of pulses for this year, we have started negotiations with Myanmar so that we can get the pulses through the government agencies so that India will have enough stock of pulses," she told reporters here.

She said that the move would also help in curbing speculations as it results in consumers' suffering.
"We shall ensure that enough pulses come to country. I am glad to say that there is a positive engagement with Myanmar," the minister added.