MMTC enters contract to import 60,000 tn pulses

The government-run MMTC has entered into a contract for import of 60,000 tonnes of pulses during the current financial year to boost its domestic availability, Parliament was informed today.

The government sector company MMTC Ltd has contracted 60,000 tonnes of pulses during 2010-11 of various quantities from different countries, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya M Scindia said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

The imports were made from Canada, Myanmar, the US, Australia and Africa, he said. 

Along with MMTC other government agencies, including PEC, NAFED, STC and NCCF have affected the deal to import over 5.33 lakh tonnes of pulses so far in the current financial year.  

In addition to these public agencies, pulses are also imported by private traders. India's total pulses import in 2009-10 was 3.4 million tonnes.

Out of this, share of PSUs was 20 per cent.