The Centre has laid out the procedure for the import of certain pulses, limited by a cap, at a time when it has a high stock in its own godowns.
The Directorate-General of Foreign Trade issued a circular on Tuesday, inviting applications for import licences from millers and refiners. “The procedure for import of 2 lakh tonnes of pigeon peas/toor dal, 1.5 lakh tonnes of urad dal, 1.5 lakh tonnes of moong dal and 1.5 lakh tonnes of peas (including yellow peas, green peas, dun peas, and kaspa peas) is laid down,” the circular said.
All India Dal Millers Association chairman Suresh Agrawal has welcomed the decision.
However, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) already has a stock of 35 lakh tonnes of pulses in its godowns, its managing director Sanjeev Chaddha said recently. The state-run agency also planned to buy 15-20 lakh tonnes of pulses in the ongoing rabi harvest season, he said.
In light of this surplus, the decision to open import of pulses, even if it is limited to 6.5 lakh tonnes, may reduce prices and impact Indian growers, say some farmers groups.
Source :- Thehindu.com
