The Government may go in for higher imports of pulses and edible oils this year, as lower kharif acreage following deficient monsoon is likely to impact output.
The Food Minister K.V. Thomas in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha here on Monday, said that lower acreage may impact production of pulses and oilseeds.
The supply-demand gap may have to be matched by a higher level of imports.
However, he said, no specific estimation had been made with respect to overall likely import of pulses and edible oils this year.
Due to deficient monsoon, pulses acreage is down at 8.83 million hectare so far in the kharif season, against 9.97 million hectare in the same period last year.
Oilseeds sowing area was also lower at 16.42 million hectare (16.99 million hectare). The monsoon deficit is 14 per cent so far.
imports
On an average, the country has imported about 2.5-3.5 million tonnes of pulses and 8-9 million tonnes of edible oil in the last three years, the Minister said.
The Government does not maintain buffer stocks of pulses and oilseeds, he said.
India imports pulses mainly from Myanmar, Australia and Canada, while edible oils are bought from Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, the US and Argentina.
Last year, pulses production stood at 17.21 million tonnes and that of oilseeds at 30 million tonnes.
Subsidy Extension
In reply to another question, Thomas said the Government was considering extending the scheme for distribution of imported edible oils with subsidy of Rs 15 a kg for another year. The scheme was due to end on September 20.
However, some States has sought an extension.
For imported pulses, he said a variant of the June 30 scheme for distribution through the public distribution system was under consideration.