Pulses production during the current fiscal is expected to decline by 5-7 per cent over 2010-11 due to lack of adequate rain, India Pulses and Grain Association (IPGA) said here today.
"Domestic production of pulses in India is likely to drop by 5-7 per cent as per our estimates, compared to 18.3 million tonne production in 2010-11, due to lack of adequate rain in certain pockets of crop," IPGA Vice-President Bimal Kothari said. He was speaking to reporters to announce the country's first global pulses conclave in Mumbai between February 15-17, 2012.
The association, however, did not expect any major impact on prices during the year and estimated import will be 3 million tonnes, same as last year.
IPGA said this projections were of their own despite government estimate for pulses in India during the fiscal pegged at close to 18 million tonnes.
"The prices are likely to stay stable," IPGA member and pulses importer Dharmendra Vijaywargi said.
Prices of pulses have eased between 30-50 per cent depending on varities from their peak of 2008-09.
IPGA belived Food Security Bill will encourage the government to focus on pulses production apart from food grains. "Government polices should encourage in pulses production as productivity in India is far below than the global average," IPGA officials said.
