India looks to strike an agreement with Argentina and Brazil for importing pulses
Published on: December 5, 2023.
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India Looks to Argentina and Brazil for Pulse Imports
After recently signing memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Mozambique, Malawi, and Myanmar for importing pulses, India is now seeking deals with Argentina and Brazil. These agreements would involve the South American countries growing tur and urad varieties of pulses with the obligation to export them to India.
Discussions have already begun with Argentinian authorities regarding the cultivation of pulses that India currently imports in large quantities. Rohit Kumar Singh, the secretary of India’s department of consumer affairs, recently met with Argentina’s ambassador, Hugo Javier Gobbi, to discuss this matter.
Similarly, during a recent visit by Brazilian officials from the agriculture ministry to India, India proposed that Brazil explore the possibility of a deal for growing pulses.
The aim of these efforts is to reduce India’s dependence on imports of pulses from a few select countries. The domestic consumption of pulses in South American countries is relatively low, and the weather conditions there are conducive to growing urad and tur varieties. Therefore, the plan is to grow these pulses in Argentina and Brazil specifically for export to India.
This year alone, India has imported 2.28 million tonnes of pulses, the majority of which came from Australia, Canada, Myanmar, Mozambique, Tanzania, Sudan, and Malawi.
Brazil, on the other hand, produces 3 million tonnes of various bean varieties annually, including black, copea, and mungo beans. This is more than enough to meet domestic demand and also allows for some exports to Vietnam, Pakistan, and Egypt.
In addition to Argentina and Brazil, India is also exploring the possibility of growing pulses in Ethiopia and Tanzania in order to boost domestic supplies.
Previous agreements have already been made with Mozambique, Malawi, and Myanmar. For example, in 2021, India signed an MoU with Mozambique to import 0.2 million tonnes of arhar annually for five years, and this was extended for another five years in September 2021.
Out of a record pulses production of 26.05 million tonnes in the 2022-23 crop year, chana (gram) accounts for 50%. India is self-sufficient in chana and moong varieties of pulses.
Despite this record production, there is still a gap between demand and supply for pulses in India. Pulses are a key source of protein for the large vegetarian population in the country.
To address this, the Indian government has eliminated import duties on three varieties of pulses—tur, lentil, and urad—to curb the rise in prices caused by a domestic production shortfall.
Imports currently account for roughly 15% of domestic pulse consumption.
In October, the retail inflation in the “pulses and products” category increased by 18.79% year-on-year, primarily due to significant price increases of arhar (40.94%), gram (11.16%), and moong (12.75%).
Source: [Financial Express](https://www.financialexpress.com)
