As part of efforts to check rise in pulse prices, India imported 55.1 lakh tonnes of lentil valued at USD 3,690.3 million in April-February of 2015-16, Parliament was informed today.
The country had imported 45.8 lakh tonnes of pulses valued at USD 2,786.1 million in 2014-15 and 36.4 lakh tonnes at USD 2,119.3 million in 2013-14, according to a written reply to the Rajya Sabha by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
"To augment domestic availability and stabilise prices of pulses, the government imported 5,000 tonnes of tur through MMTC in 2015-16. For buffer stock of pulses, MMTC has already contracted for import of 13,500 tonnes of tur and 12,500 tonnes of urad," Sitharaman said.
The Centre has created a buffer stock of 50,000 tonnes of tur and urad procured in the 2015 kharif season and is also in the process of buying rabi pulses.
The government is using the Price Stabilisation Fund for creating buffer stock and import of pulses and other essential commodities so that it can intervene in the market to check prices.
As per the agriculture ministry's second estimate, pulse production is estimated at 17.33 million tonnes in 2015-16 crop year (July-June), marginally higher than the previous year's production of 17.15 million tonnes.
India is the world's largest producer of pulses, but its domestic demand outstrips production. The shortfall is met through imports, which rose to 5.79 million tonnes in 2015-16, from 4.58 million tonnes in the previous year.
