NEW DELHI (Commoditiescontrol) - India's pulses import dropped by 76.19 percent to Rs 755.96 crore in January this year as compared to Rs 3,175.59 crore during the same month previous year.
In dollar terms, India's pulses import bill cut by 74.53 percent at USD 118.79 million as against USD 466.45 million in January 2017, according to the Commerce Ministry's data released on Thursday.
Imposition of import duty on pulses mainly led to a decline in shipments.
The government had on December 21 imposed a hefty 30 percent import duty on chana and masoor dal to curb cheaper shipments and boost local prices that have fallen in view of record domestic production.
The government on November 8 had also imposed import duty on yellow peas at 50 percent, which was bought duty-free earlier.
The government had earlier said that the country has imported 50.8 lakh tonnes of pulses for Rs 17,280 crore during April-December period of this fiscal.
Pulses output increased sharply to an all-time high of 22.95 million tonnes in 2016-17 crop year (July-June) from 16.35 million tonnes in the previous year, as per the Agriculture Ministry data.
"India imports pulses and edible oils to meet the gap between domestic production and demand. Pulses and edible oils in India are imported by private sector and not by the government," Minister of State for Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.
He had said the production of pulses has increased from 17.15 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 22.95 million tonnes in 2016-17.
As per data submitted by the Minister, pulses import stood at 50.8 lakh tonnes valuing Rs 17,280 crore during April-December period of 2017-18 fiscal.
During 2016-17 fiscal, 66.08 lakh tonnes worth Rs 28,523 crore pulses were imported, while imports stood at 57.97 lakh tonnes worth Rs 25,619 crore in 2015-16 and 45.8 lakh tonnes worth Rs 17,062 crore in 2014-15.
Import of pulses in last three years and current year-
2014-15: 45.8 lakh tonnes (Value- Rs 17,062 crore)
2015-16: 57.97 lakh tonnes (Value- Rs 25, 619 crore)
2016-17: 66.08 lakh tonnes (Value- 28, 523 crore)
2017-18 (Apr-Dec): 50.8 lakh tonnes (Value- Rs 17,280 crore)
Shekhawat had said 3.79 lakh tonnes of pulses were imported by the government in 2015-16 to create buffer stock when the availability of commodity was less and domestic prices were high.
Pulses have been sown in 5.29 percent higher area at 169.10 lakh hectare so far this rabi season when compared with 160.60 lakh hectare in the same period last year, the Agriculture Ministry's data showed.
| Commodity |
Area Sown In Lakh Hectare 2017-2018 |
Area Sown In Lakh Hectare 2016-2017 |
| Chana |
107.63 |
99.54 |
| Masoor |
17.36 |
17.3 |
| Field Pea |
11.92 |
11.97 |
| Urad |
9.44 |
9.93 |
| Moong |
8.31 |
7.34 |
| Other Pulses |
6.28 |
6.53 |
| Pulses |
169.1 |
160.6 |
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau: +91-22-40015513)
|
0 Comments 
Post Comment 
