The government today said there is no plan to create a reserve stock of pulses because of their limited availability in the global market.
"India has always been a net importer of pulses due to a mismatch between domestic supply and demand for pulses. A reserve stock of pulses is not contemplated in view of limited availability," Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said last week in Parliament that "there is a net shortage of 4 million tonnes (of pulses) and except Myanmar, Argentina and Turkey, no country has exportable surplus."
Prices of all pulses, except yellow peas and masoor, have risen in the range of 11.58-131.58 per cent over the past one year.
The demand for pulses is estimated at 18.29 million tonnes in 2009-10 as against 17.51 million tonnes in the previous year. India produced 14.66 million tonnes of pulses in 2008-09 and imported 2.44 million tonnes.
The country has imported 20 per cent more pulses during April-October period at 1.59 million tonnes, Pawar said.
The government has asked state-owned trading firms MMTC, PEC, STC and co-operative firm Nafed to import 15 lakh tonnes this fiscal against reimbursement of losses up to 15 per cent.
It has extended the zero-duty regime on pulses import and the ban on exports till March 31, 2010.
The Centre has created a strategic reserve of 5 million tonnes of wheat and rice over and above the buffer stock to meet any exigencies.
