India’s pulses will likely decline by about a third to around 5 million tonnes during the current financial year against 7.3 million tonnes the previous fiscal year on higher carried forward stocks, weakening rupee against the dollar and levy of duty on yellow peas.
“India imported 7.3 million tonnes last year. I think this year we will end up with around 5 million tonnes. The imported quantity has come down significantly. A lot of quantity got carried over the last year and I think that is also a reason for decline in imports,” said Bimal Kothari, Chairman, India Pulses & Grains Association (IPGA), the apex trade body for the sector.
The quick estimates released by the Commerce Ministry recently point to a similar trend for the current financial year. Pulses imports in value terms were down by 33.33 per cent at $2.525 billion during April-December period of current financial year over corresponding previous year’s $3.788 billion, as per the quick estimates.
