In a bid to check rising prices, the government has issued a tender to import 5,000 tonnes of arhar dal (pigeon peas) to boost domestic supply from September.
State-run MMTC has invited bids for supply of 5,000 tonnes of pigeon peas but the quantity of shipment would be increased depending on the price bids.
The government has directed MMTC and other state trading agencies to import pulses to improve domestic availability and check inflation in lentils.
Retail prices of most pulses including tur have breached Rs 100 per kg mark in most parts of the country due to supply crunch in the wake of a decline in domestic production by nearly 2 million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) on account of unfavourable weather conditions.
According to the tender, overseas suppliers should import pigeon peas of Myanmar, Malawi or Mozambique origin grown in the current year 2015.
Both technical and price bids are to be submitted by July 10 and the tender will remain valid up to July 24.
A shipment of 2,500 tonnes each should reach Mumbai and Chennai, not later than September 15. The lentil should be offered in jute or poly propping bags of 50 kg.
Bid should be made for a minimum quantity of 2,500 tonnes. The prices should be quoted in US dollar on a credit and freight free out (C&FFO) basis separately for Myanmar and Malawi/Mozambique origin of pigeon peas, MMTC added.
India imports about 4 million tonnes of pulses, largely through private trade, to meet domestic shortfall.
Pulses production is estimated to have fallen to 17.38 million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) from 19.25 million tonnes in the previous crop year due to deficient monsoon last year and unseasonal rains and hailstorms during March-April this year.
