The Hindu : National : Myanmar cyclone will hit pulses import

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Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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Myanmar cyclone will hit pulses import

Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI: The cyclone in Myanmar will hit the import of pulses and consequently push up prices, which are already ruling high. Shipments will be delayed, official sources told The Hindu.

Nearly 10 lakh tonnes of pulses are scheduled to be imported this year. These include over three lakh tonnes each of tur, urad and moong dal. Delivery of shipments of about 30,000 quintals each was slated to have been completed at Indian ports by October.

With an average shortfall in production, India imports between three to four million tonnes of pulses every year. Most of the imports are from Canada, France, Australia, Turkey and Myanmar.

Officials of the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs said India imports gram, yellow peas, urad, moong and tur from these countries to augment supplies. Lack of technological breakthrough in pulses research has resulted in stagnation in the output of the commodity for over two decades now. Also, up to 90 per cent of the crop is totally dependent on monsoons.

This year, however, production is expected to be better than last year’s. As against 14.3 million tonnes, India’s pulses output is expected to be 15.5 million tonnes. The annual demand is about 17.5 million tonnes.

The additional 1.2 million tonnes will help the country tide over the delay in supplies from Myanmar, official sources said.

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