The government has contracted for import of 4.06 lakh tonnes (LT) of pulses so far this year for buffer stock, and the total shipments could rise to 10 LT. Of the total pulses import deals clinched so far, tur was 1.58 LT, masoor about 1.35 LT, chana 70,000 tonnes and urad 42,500 tonnes.
The government has started importing pulses from 2015 after a gap of two years in order to meet the domestic shortfall and price rise. As per information provided by Minister of State for Food CR Chaudhary, the government has decided to create a buffer stock of up to 20 LT of which up to 10 LT may be imported.
The government is targeting a record 20.75 million tonnes (MT) of pulses output in the ongoing 2016-17 crop year (July-June). The previous record was 19.25 MT achieved in 2013-14. Thereafter, output fell due to drought.