MMTC has issued a tender for importing 5,000 tonnes of pigeon peas (tur) in order to boost domestic supply and control prices. The government has directed MMTC to import more pulses to improve supply and check price rise amid production concerns due to back-to-back drought. The prices of pulses are already ruling high at around Rs 180 per kg.
As per the tender document, the global bids for import of 5,000 tonnes of pigeon peas of the latest crop are invited from Myanmar, Malawi, Mozambique or any other origin. Both technical and price bids should be submitted by February 10 and tenders will remain valid till February 16. The bids are for a minimum quantity of 2,500 tonnes and the shipment should reach Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Chennai port by April 15.
This is the second tender floated by state-owned MMTC this month. The earlier one was for import of a similar quantity of tur for delivery in February-March. The production of pulses in 2015-16 crop year (July-June) is expected to be much below the earlier estimate of around 18 million tonnes because of poor sowing of rabi crops. Production in 2014-15 was at 17.38 million tonnes.