Lok Sabha Question No. 2809 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Import of Pulses
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Pocha Brahmananda Reddy

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2809

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2023

## IMPORT OF PULSES

2809.  SHRI POCHA BRAHMANANDA REDDY:

## Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of domestic production and foreign imports of pulses in the country in the last five years;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any steps to reduce import dependence for pulses;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has entered into agreements with any country to facilitate import of pulses; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to ensure that domestic producers are not harmed by such imports?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ( श्री अश्विनी कु मार चौबे )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) : The country has attained the self-sufficiency in case of Chana and Moong production. In case of three other major pulses i.e Tur, Urad and Masur, though the production has increased, climatic uncertainties  have  resulted  in  production  fluctuations.  Owing  to  specific  consumption  preferences coupled with production fluctuations India still need to import Tur, Urad and Masur to meet the objective of ensuring availability of pulses at affordable prices for domestic consumers. Import policy of pulses is formulated  on  the  basis  of  close  and  continuous  monitoring  of  domestic  production,  availability  and prices  scenario  including  landed  cost  of  imported  stocks  vis-à-vis  MSP  by  the  Inter-Ministerial Committee  (IMC)  comprising  of  Department  of  Consumer  Affairs,  Department  of  Food  and  Public Distribution,  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers'  Welfare  and  Department  of  Commerce.  The decisions regarding opening or restriction of imports and the rates for import duties are done keeping the interests  of  both  the  domestic  farmers  and  the  consumers  to  ensure  availability  of  these  pulses  at affordable prices to domestic consumers. The details of domestic production and imports of pulses in the country in the last five years is given at Annexure .

(b) & (c)   :    The  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM)  implemented by Department of Agriculture and  Farmers  Welfare  (DA&FW),  aims  to  increase  domestic  production  of  pulses  through  enhanced productivity,  crop  area  expansion  under  pulses  and  promoting  research  and  development  for  evolving better varieties. In addition, the Government announces Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for 22 notified crops to ensure remunerative prices to farmers. Increase in pulses production from 220.76 LMT in 201819 to 273.02 LMT in 2021-22 is a testament of the initiatives taken by the Government in achieving selfsufficiency.

(d) & (e)  : Presently India has Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 3 countries i.e. Mozambique, Malawi and Myanmar for import of Pulses. MoU with Mozambique which was signed on 7th July, 2016 for  five  years  from  2016-17  to  2020-21  &MoU has been extended for another five  years till 2025-26. MoU provides for import of 2.0 Lakh MT of Tur from Mozambique through private trade. MoU with Malawi signed on 16th June, 2021 provides for an import of 0.50 Lakh MT of Tur through private trade for five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. MoU with Myanmar signed on 18th June, 2021 provides for an import of 1.0 Lakh MT of Tur and 2.5 Lakh MT of Urad through private trade for five years from 202122 to 2025-26.

To  further  incentivize  pulses  production  and  support  the  domestic  farmers,  the  government announced the policy to procure Tur ,Urad and Masur without ceiling during 2023-24 season. The policy has been extended for the 2024-25 season.

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2809 FOR 20.12.2023 REGARDING IMPORT OF PULSES.

| Production of Pulses in country during last five years( in LMT)   | Production of Pulses in country during last five years( in LMT)   | Production of Pulses in country during last five years( in LMT)   | Production of Pulses in country during last five years( in LMT)   | Production of Pulses in country during last five years( in LMT)   | Production of Pulses in country during last five years( in LMT)   | Production of Pulses in country during last five years( in LMT)   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Pulses                                                            | Season                                                            | 2018-19                                                           | 2019-20                                                           | 2020-21                                                           | 2021-22                                                           | 2022-23                                                           |
| Tur                                                               | Kharif                                                            | 33.15                                                             | 38.92                                                             | 43.16                                                             | 42.2                                                              | 33.12                                                             |
| Gram                                                              | Rabi                                                              | 99.38                                                             | 110.78                                                            | 119.11                                                            | 135.44                                                            | 122.67                                                            |
| Urad                                                              | Kharif                                                            | 23.63                                                             | 13.3                                                              | 15.07                                                             | 18.65                                                             | 17.68                                                             |
| Urad                                                              | Rabi                                                              | 6.97                                                              | 7.52                                                              | 7.23                                                              | 9.11                                                              | 6.33                                                              |
| Urad                                                              | Summer                                                            | 0                                                                 | 0                                                                 | 0                                                                 | 0                                                                 | 2.3                                                               |
| Urad                                                              | Total                                                             | 30.6                                                              | 20.81                                                             | 22.3                                                              | 27.76                                                             | 26.31                                                             |
| Moong                                                             | Kharif                                                            | 17.84                                                             | 18.26                                                             | 19.96                                                             | 14.8                                                              | 17.18                                                             |
| Moong                                                             | Rabi                                                              | 6.71                                                              | 6.873                                                             | 10.89                                                             | 16.86                                                             | 1.1                                                               |
| Moong                                                             | Summer                                                            | 0                                                                 | 0                                                                 | 0                                                                 | 0                                                                 | 18.48                                                             |
| Moong                                                             | Total                                                             | 24.55                                                             | 25.09                                                             | 30.85                                                             | 31.66                                                             | 36.76                                                             |
| Lentil                                                            | Rabi                                                              | 12.28                                                             | 11.03                                                             | 14.94                                                             | 12.69                                                             | 15.59                                                             |
| Other Kharif                                                      | Other Kharif                                                      | 6.29                                                              | 8.73                                                              | 7.99                                                              | 6.69                                                              | 8.24                                                              |
| Other Rabi                                                        | Other Rabi                                                        | 14.5                                                              | 14.89                                                             | 16.28                                                             | 16.58                                                             | 17.9                                                              |
| Total Pulses Production                                           | Kharif                                                            | 80.91                                                             | 79.21                                                             | 86.18                                                             | 82.35                                                             | 76.21                                                             |
| Total Pulses Production                                           | Rabi                                                              | 139.85                                                            | 151.04                                                            | 168.45                                                            | 190.67                                                            | 163.58                                                            |
| Total Pulses Production                                           | Summer                                                            |                                                                   | 0                                                                 | 0                                                                 | 0                                                                 | 20.79                                                             |
| Total Pulses Production                                           | Total                                                             | 220.76                                                            | 230.25                                                            | 254.63                                                            | 273.02                                                            | 260.58                                                            |
| Source: M/oDA&FW                                                  | Source: M/oDA&FW                                                  |                                                                   |                                                                   |                                                                   |                                                                   |                                                                   |

| Import of Pulses during last five years( in LMT)   | Import of Pulses during last five years( in LMT)   | Import of Pulses during last five years( in LMT)   | Import of Pulses during last five years( in LMT)   | Import of Pulses during last five years( in LMT)   | Import of Pulses during last five years( in LMT)   |
|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| (Quantity in LMT) Pulses                           | 2018-19                                            | 2019-20                                            | 2020-21                                            | 2021-22                                            | 2022-23                                            |
| Tur                                                | 5.31                                               | 4.5                                                | 4.43                                               | 8.4                                                | 8.94                                               |
| Moong                                              | 0.84                                               | 0.69                                               | 0.82                                               | 1.96                                               | 0.32                                               |
| Urad                                               | 4.9                                                | 3.12                                               | 3.35                                               | 6.12                                               | 5.25                                               |
| Chana                                              | 1.86                                               | 3.71                                               | 2.95                                               | 2.02                                               | 0.63                                               |
| Masur                                              | 2.49                                               | 8.54                                               | 11.16                                              | 6.67                                               | 8.58                                               |
| Source: DoC website                                |                                                    |                                                    |                                                    |                                                    |                                                    |

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