Question : PULSE IMPORT

(a) whether the Government has banned export and allowed duty free import of pulses during the last one year to augment supplies and check prices;

(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the quantum and price of imports during the last one year;

(c) whether the percentage share of imported pulses in the total availability of pulses in the country during the current year and the ensuing years is likely to be lower in view of bumper harvest during the current year;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the impact of price of pulses in international market on their prices in the domestic market?

MINISTER OF THE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K. V. THOMAS)

(a): Yes madam.

(b): During 2009-10 a quantity of 3.51 million tonnes of pulses were imported at a value of Rs 9813.37 crore. During 2010-11, during April-October, a quantity of 1.61 million tonnes of pulses has been imported at a value of Rs 4542.29 crore.

(c) & (d): Pulses are imported depending on the commercial viability of the imports. The estimated production of pulses for the current year, though higlier than last year, still falls short of the estimated demand and will necessarily entail imports. To the extent domestic availability meets larger proportion of demand, the share of import requirement to that extent will be lower.

(e): India annually imports about 15% of the pulses requirements since there is a supply-demand mismatch. Consequently, being the largest consumer and importer of pulses, international prices of pulses will have an impact on the domestic prices.