NEW DELHI: The government has decided to import 1.5 million tons of pulses in 2008-09 fiscal through public sector trading agencies, a move aimed at increasing the domestic availability and curb rising prices of the commodity.
"We will import 1.5 million tons of pulses during this fiscal through STC, MMTC, Nafed and PEC," a top government official said.
In last fiscal also, the government had announced that it would import 1.5 million tons of pulses and offered 15 per cent subsidy to these agencies. However, it has not been able to purchase the targeted quantity because of economic factors.
"You cannot just import to meet the target. Imports are to be made in phases so that international prices do not rise sharply. Besides, the domestic prices are also to be monitored," another government official said.
The PSUs have been able to contract nearly 1.4 million tons of pulses, including 0.9 million tons of yellow peas, till May 6 since April last year. Out of these contracted pulses, 1.19 million tons have already arrived in the country and 1.05 million tons are sold in the domestic market.
Giving details about the imports to be made during the current fiscal, the official said out of the 1.5 million tons target fixed for 2008-09, half the imports would be of yellow peas.
India imported 2.5 to 3 million tons of pulses during last fiscal, including purchase made by private traders, and the country is likely to contract similar quantities during 2008-09 fiscal, Pulses Importers Association President K C Bhartiya had said.
According to government's third advance estimate, pulses production is pegged at 15.19 million tons in 2007-08 against the estimated domestic requirement of 16.77 million tons.
"We will import 1.5 million tons of pulses during this fiscal through STC, MMTC, Nafed and PEC," a top government official said.
In last fiscal also, the government had announced that it would import 1.5 million tons of pulses and offered 15 per cent subsidy to these agencies. However, it has not been able to purchase the targeted quantity because of economic factors.
"You cannot just import to meet the target. Imports are to be made in phases so that international prices do not rise sharply. Besides, the domestic prices are also to be monitored," another government official said.
The PSUs have been able to contract nearly 1.4 million tons of pulses, including 0.9 million tons of yellow peas, till May 6 since April last year. Out of these contracted pulses, 1.19 million tons have already arrived in the country and 1.05 million tons are sold in the domestic market.
Giving details about the imports to be made during the current fiscal, the official said out of the 1.5 million tons target fixed for 2008-09, half the imports would be of yellow peas.
India imported 2.5 to 3 million tons of pulses during last fiscal, including purchase made by private traders, and the country is likely to contract similar quantities during 2008-09 fiscal, Pulses Importers Association President K C Bhartiya had said.
According to government's third advance estimate, pulses production is pegged at 15.19 million tons in 2007-08 against the estimated domestic requirement of 16.77 million tons.
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