Imports of pulses have surged by 50 per cent to 900,000 tonnes in the first four months of this fiscal till July, due to the supply-demand mismatch that sent prices of key pulses like tur soaring.
"Both the government and the private-owned trading agencies have imported total 900,000 tonnes of pulses during the April-July period, compared with 600,000 tonnes in the year-ago period," a senior government official said.
More quantity was imported in order to step up supplies in the domestic market and contain prices, he said, adding that about 30-40 per cent of the total imports were yellow peas, with the rest being other pulses like tur and urad.
He further said increasing demand for pulses due to rise in population has pushed up net imports.
According to the government data, prices of pulses, especially tur, are still ruling beyond the reach of the common man at Rs 85 a kg.
However, the official said, "After reaching the peak level in July, both global and domestic rates of pulses are ruling steady at higher level in the last fortnight."
The pulses are imported both by government-authorised agencies — PEC, STC, MMTC and Nafed, and the private traders. The public agencies are offloading imported pulses in the open market via tenders.
India, the world's largest producer and consumer, imports to meet a shortage of 3 million tonnes every year. The country's pulses output stood at 14.66 million tonnes in 2008-09 against the demand of 17-18 million tonnes.
