India’s pulses import rose by 23 per cent to 3.31 million tonnes worth $1,821.95 million (about Rs 10,149.5 crore) in the last fiscal.
The country had imported 2.69 million tonnes of the commodity worth $1,565.44 million (about Rs 8,725 crore) in the 2010—11 fiscal, as per the data presented by Food Minister K V Thomas in the Lok Sabha.
Due to delayed and deficient monsoon, which has affected the sowing of major kharif crops like pulses, the quantity of imports is expected to rise in the 2012—13 financial year.
Pulses acreage so far in this kharif (summer sowing) season has declined by 17 per cent to 74.48 lakh hectares so far from 89.34 lakh hectares a year—ago.
The country’s pulses production is expected to have declined by 7 per cent to 17.21 million tonnes in the 2011—12 crop year (July—June) from 18.24 million tonnes in the 2010—11 crop year.