IPGA’s Vision is To Make Indian Pulses and Grains Industry & Trade Globally Competitive.

The world production of pulses is about 60 million tons and the world trade in pulses is about 18 million tons.

Formation of India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), the apex body of the country’s pulses and grains industry & trade, was formally announced today by its President, Pravin Dongre, a well-known agribusiness specialist. IPGA was formerly known as Pulses Importers Association (PIA) in India.

The world production of pulses is about 60 million tons and the world trade in pulses is about 18 million tons. It is common knowledge that India is the world’s largest producer (15-18 million tons), importer (2.5-3.5 million tons) and consumer (18.5-20.5 million tons) of a wide range of pulses. With rising incomes and population pressure, consumption demand for pulses – the most economical vegetable protein – has been rising. As domestic output growth has lagged consumption growth our dependence on imports has increased.

As importers, IPGA members across the country play a critical role in bridging the demand-supply gap by arranging for timely import of pulses. Effective distribution network across the country means the essential food commodity of mass consumption reaches the length and breadth of the country to meet consumer needs all round the year.

As PIA’s successor, IPGA will seek to address industry and trade related issues of pulses and grains. It ensures regular liaison with the government at various levels including the Central government, various State governments and local authorities.            

Pravin Dongre, President – IPGA, while speaking on the occasion said, “IPGA’s vision is to make Indian pulses and grains industry & trade globally competitive; and in so doing, help advance India’s food security and nutrition security. IPGA will aim at becoming the single-point domain knowledge provider on the pulses & grains sector and will work with policymakers, researchers and related others to create an environment that fosters sustainable practices with ethical underpinning. As the apex body, the association will bring together stakeholders along the value chain and provide national leadership with regional and global aspirations.”

IPGA has identified a few key factors that affect pulses production, productivity and marketing in India. Fragmented landholding, cultivation on marginal lands, dependence on rain-fed cultivation, and susceptibility to pest & disease attacks, poor rural infrastructure, remunerative farm-gate prices as well as adequate flow of price market information to growers are some of the major challenges of Indian agriculture in general and pulses in particular.

 IPGA will work with the Government and related institutions to look at these key areas that stymie growth and explore solutions to increase output, raise yields, improve quality and deliver better foods to consumers. Despite having the world’s largest planted area for pulses and despite being the world’s largest producer of pulses, the yield per hectare in our country (about 600 kgs/ha) is less than half the world average and a third of the yield in best-in-class countries like Canada.

Source : indiainfoline.com