The prices of pulses in the country is set to inch up by 10-20 per cent over the next two-to-three months on account of a drop in production and a likely fall in imports this year.
The production is expected to drop by about 7 per cent to 17 million tonnes in crop year 2011-12, against the initial estimate of 18.5 million tonne, said Mr Bimal Kothari, Vice-President, India Pulses and Grains Association.
Rabi crop accounts for almost 60-70 per cent of the total production of pulses in the country (which stands roughly at about 18 million tonnes on an average) while kharif crop accounts for the rest 35-40 per cent.
“There has been a 10 per cent decline in kharif production this year on account of adverse weather conditions in some parts of the country. Another 5 per cent drop is expected in the rabi production (the harvesting for which will begin in the second week of January) thereby taking the total drop in production to about 7-8 per cent,” Mr Kothari told newspersons on the sidelines of a press meet to announce the Global Pulses Conclave 2012 to be held in Mumbai in February next year.