India Requires To Import 3.4 Mt Pulses in 2011-12: Govt.

New Delhi, (PTI) Notwithstanding expected bumper production of pulses during 2011-12, India would require to import 3.40 million tonnes of the vital foodgrain item to match the enhanced demand, Parliament was informed today.

The production of pulses during 2011-12 as per the Second Advance Estimates released by Union Agriculture minister is estimated to be 16.51 million tonnes, Food minister K V Thomas said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

Planning Commission has estimated that the demand for pulses in the country during the period is 19.11 million tonnes, Thomas said adding the gap of 3.4 million tonnes have to be met by imports.

Given that the supply and demand mismatch with regard to pulses is likely to exist in the near future, the government has permitted imports of pulses at zero duty up to March 31, 2012 to increase domestic availability and stabilise the prices of pulses, he added.

Asked about additional financial burden on the country''s exchequer due to inbound shipment of pulses by the government agencies, Thomas said it would depend upon quantity of pulses actually imported by the designated agencies.

Source : in.news.yahoo.com