Govt to purchase pulses from Myanmar

The Union Cabinet today decided to authorise the Department of Consumer Affairs to finalise the framework of government to government purchases of pulses from Myanmar. The imports will be upto 1 million tones per year commencing from the financial year 2008-09.The decision will help in ensuring domestic availability of purses and stabilizing their prices.

India is the biggest importer of pulses. The country imports 3-4 million tonne of pulses annually to meet the gap between domestic output and consumption. Domestic pulses output in 2007-08 stood at 15.11 million tonne. The shortage of pulses and its continuously spiraling prices had prompted government to impose a ban on its export and allow duty free imports.