India is seeking to buy pulses from Myanmar after it encountered a domestic shortage of more than seven million tonnes, causing local prices to soar. India, the world’s top consumer of pulses, is also looking at importing from African countries.
Annual consumption of pulses in India amounts to nearly 22 million tonnes. In 2015-2016 fiscal year, imported pulses reached about a quarter of the national intake. Uncertain monsoons and obstacles in irrigation make the nation heavily rely on overseas purchases.
According to farm ministry data, Indian farmers had cultivated pulses on 9 million hectares as of 22 July, versus 6.5 million the previous year. In an alternative approach to tackling the pulse crisis, India is also planning to help Mozambique cultivate pulses and then buy back from it via government-to-government deals in the coming years.
