In a bid to meet domestic demand, the country has imported 2.66 million tonnes of pulses during April-January period of last fiscal. However, the comparative figures for 2010-11 were not available.
India, the world’s largest pulses producer and consumer, had imported 2.69 million tonnes in the entire 2010-11 fiscal. The domestic demand of pulses was pegged at 18.84 million tonnes for last fiscal.
The pulses production has decreased to 17.02 million tonnes in the 2011-12 crop year (July-June) against a record 18.24 million tonnes in the previous year, according to the third advance estimates released by the Agriculture Ministry on April 24, 2012. Further the wholesale prices of pulses, except gram, were lower in 2011-12 fiscal compared to previous year.
On steps taken by the government to check high prices, the import duty has been removed and exports of pulses, except kabuli chana and organic pulses are banned. Besides, the government has imposed stock limits on pulses and has also suspended futures trading in urad and tur.