As part of efforts to check rise in pulse prices, India imported 55.1 lakh tonnes of lentil valued at $3,690.3 million in April-February of 2015-16, Parliament was informed today.
The country had imported 45.8 lakh tonnes of pulses valued at $2,786.1 million in 2014-15 and 36.4 lakh tonnes at $2,119.3 million in 2013-14, according to a written reply to the Rajya Sabha by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
“To augment domestic availability and stabilise prices of pulses, the government imported 5,000 tonnes of tur through MMTC in 2015-16. For buffer stock of pulses, MMTC has already contracted for import of 13,500 tonnes of tur and 12,500 tonnes of urad,” Sitharaman said.