Pulses

Import of pulses at Tuticorin port was down 66.6% on year at 13,598.7 tn in September. A sharp decline in imports of chana, peas and tur led to the fall. Imports of most pulses have fallen since the beginning of the year, following trade restrictions and a rise in customs duty. For May, the last month for which data is available, imports of pulses were pegged at 18,962.30 tn.

The total production of Kharif pulses is estimated at 9.22 million tonnes which is lower by 0.12 million tonnes than the last year’s production of 9.34 million tonnes. However, kharif pulses estimated production is 2.67 million tonnes more than the last five years average production.

The farm pricing panel has also recommended an increase of 220 rupees per 100 kg in the support price for chana to 4,620 rupees. Farmers of masur, another key rabi crop, may get a minimum support price of 4,475 rupees per 100 kg as against 4,250 rupees last year. The government wants to declare the minimum support prices for key rabi crops at the onset of the season due to upcoming Assembly polls in several states. It has to be declared before the code of conduct comes into place.

Currently, buffer stocks of pulses are at 1.2-1.3 mln tn and the government has no plan to increase it to the 2.0-mln-tn limit in coming months. Buffer was created around three years back to safeguard consumers from the brunt of sharp spike in prices due to shortage in physical markets. As currently markets are well-supplied due to record production in last couple of years and due to hopes of bumper output this year, the government has no immediate plan to build a buffer to its limit of 2 mln tn in near future. At 1 mln tn, tur accounts for the maximum share in the buffer stock.

The US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service sees Myanmar beans and pulses 2018-19 output down 14.2% on year at 3.8 mln tn. Output of the pulses in the country is estimated to decline as the Myanmar government has urged the farmers to reduce production of some pulses such as urad and tur and shift to other crops such as seed corn, soybeans, green gram, dry season rice and sesame. About 80-90% of the total tur production and 60-70% of urad is exported to India, and the domestic wholesale prices depends mostly on India’s demand. In March last year, India had imposed a 10% customs duty and in August imposed quantitative restriction of 200,000 tn on tur and 300,000 tn on urad and moong annually, to curb cheaper imports. The restrictive policy by the Indian government has led to a sharp drop in the exports of pulses from Myanmar.

The US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service sees Myanmar beans and pulses 2018-19 output down 14.2% on year at 3.8 mln tn. Output of the pulses in the country is estimated to decline as the Myanmar government has urged the farmers to reduce production of some pulses such as urad and tur and shift to other crops such as seed corn, soybeans, green gram, dry season rice and sesame. About 80-90% of the total tur production and 60-70% of urad is exported to India, and the domestic wholesale prices depends mostly on India’s demand. In March last year, India had imposed a 10% customs duty and in August imposed quantitative restriction of 200,000 tn on tur and 300,000 tn on urad and moong annually, to curb cheaper imports. The restrictive policy by the Indian government has led to a sharp drop in the exports of pulses from Myanmar.

The Maharashtra government has sought 15,000 tn of pulses per month from the central government at subsidised rates. In August the Cabinet had approved a proposal by the agriculture ministry that the Centre provide pulses at a discount of 15 rupees per kg on wholesale rate to state governments that would be then sold under the public distribution system. Under this approved scheme, the state/UT (Union Territory) governments are offered to lift 3.488 mln tn of tur, chana, masur, moong and urad at a discount of 15 rupees per kg over the prevailing wholesale market price of the sourcing state on first come first serve basis.

The Madhya Pradesh government will sell 18,000 tn poor and non-fair average quality of chana, masur, and mustard procured in May-Jun. The government is selling the commodity to pay farmers the minimum support price in full. The government was unable to pay the farmers as agencies procured some of the commodities which were of non-fair average quality and were also damaged. The government has, therefore, ordered to auction these pulses and oilseeds and release the pending dues to the farmers latest by Aug 27 into their bank accounts. The total quantity of chana, masur, and mustard procured by the government in 2018-19 is 1.97 mln tn.

The Madhya Pradesh government will sell 18,000 tn poor and non-fair average quality of chana, masur, and mustard procured in May-Jun. The government is selling the commodity to pay farmers the minimum support price in full. The government was unable to pay the farmers as agencies procured some of the commodities which were of non-fair average quality and were also damaged. The government has, therefore, ordered to auction these pulses and oilseeds and release the pending dues to the farmers latest by Aug 27 into their bank accounts. The total quantity of chana, masur, and mustard procured by the government in 2018-19 is 1.97 mln tn.

Export of pulses from the country jumped over two-fold on year to 100,982 tn in Apr-Jun primarily due to improved demand from overseas buyers. Improved demand from the neighboring countries particularly Bangladesh is likely to have led to the surge in the export of the pulses. Guar gum exports were down 6.8% on year to 134,790 tn in the first three months of the current financial year due to a fall in demand.

Export of pulses from the country jumped over two-fold on year to 100,982 tn in Apr-Jun primarily due to improved demand from overseas buyers. Improved demand from the neighboring countries particularly Bangladesh is likely to have led to the surge in the export of the pulses. Guar gum exports were down 6.8% on year to 134,790 tn in the first three months of the current financial year due to a fall in demand.

The Union Cabinet today approved the farm ministry’s proposal to provide pulses at a discount of 15 rupees per kg on wholesale rate to the state governments. Pulses would be provided to states from the stock procured under the price support schemes. Under this approved scheme, the state/UT (Union Territory) governments are offered to lift 3.488 mln tn of tur, chana, masur, moong and urad at a discount of 15 rupees per kg over the prevailing wholesale market price of the sourcing state on first come first serve basis.

Import of pulses at Chennai port rose over sixfold on month in July to 41,856 tn because of higher buys of urad. Imports of urad increased substantially to 32,184 tn in July from 3,888 tn in June and 27,120 tn in the corresponding period last year. Imports of some pulses have seen a revival over the past two months with the start of the new financial year. The government had last year imposed quantitative restrictions annually on tur, urad and moong to curb cheaper imports into the country. Total imports of tur into the country were restricted to 200,000 tn and that of urad and moong were limited to 150,000 tn each.

The government removed export curbs on pulses in November after the domestic production rose. Indias export of pulses have jumped 115.3% on year to 100,982 tn in Apr-Jun, while exports of other cereals also surged 180.1% to 431,562 tn during the same period. However, basmati rise export fell 7% on year to 1.17 mln tn, while non-basmati rice exports rose to nearly 2 mln tn, up 12.6% on year. Indias export of basmati took a hit after the European Union, a major importer, had reduced the permissible limit of tricyclazole residue in imported rice to 0.01 part per mln from 1 part per mln allowed, effective Jan 1.

The Centre is planning to provide 70 million households in selected districts with 2 kg of pulses monthly at a price that is about 50 percent cheaper than market prices. Under this mega sale, the Centre will provide pulses, especially arhar and gram (chana), to states at Rs 35 per kg compared to the average cost of procuring pulses of Rs 50 per kg (for Nafed). It could cost the Centre about Rs 8,000 crore for implementation of such a scheme. Currently, 5kg each of rice or wheat is provided under the National Food Security Act to 81 crore beneficiaries across the country.

The government may extend the deadline for imposition of higher customs duties on 29 products, imported from the U.S. by another 45 days. Among the 29 products are almonds, walnuts and pulses.The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs is likely to issue an amended notification extending the date for the new levy on August 4. While the import duty on walnut was to be hiked to 120 percent from 30 percent earlier, duty on chickpeas, Bengal gram and masur dal was to be hiked to 70 percent from 30 percent. Levy on lentils was to be hiked to 40 percent from 30 percent.

Exports of pulses have picked up, with volumes exceeding over one lakh tonnes during the quarter, enjoying robust demand from countries such as Turkey, Algeria and UAE. Similarly, volumes in dairy products increased to 35,720 tonnes (23,703 tonnes).

In the state of Madhya Pradesh, the state government has given the relief of lentil mills to eliminate the mandi fee of 2.25 per cent on pulses coming from neighboring states. This relief will be given to pulses only, if the traders bring pulses from other states, they will have to pay the mandi tax.