Three PSUs given contracts for 2.92 lakh tonne pulses import

NEW DELHI: State-run STC, MMTC and PEC were given contracts for importing 2,92,650 tonne of pulses in 2011-12, Parliament was informed today.

State Trading Corporation (STC), Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation (MMTC) and PEC have contracted for 98,490 tonne, 11,000 tonne and 1,83,160 tonne of pulses, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

"During 2011-12, import of pulses contracted by PSUs is 2,92,650 tonnes. No import of oilseeds was contracted by any PSU," he said.

India mainly imports the commodity from Australia, Canada, China, France, Tanzania, Myanmar and USA. The world's largest pulses producer and consumer, it had imported 2.69 million tonnes in the 2010--11 fiscal.

The domestic demand of pulses was pegged at 18.84 million tonnes for last fiscal.

As per the third advance estimates released this week by the Agriculture Ministry, the pulses production has declined to 17.02 million tonnes in the 2011--12 crop year (July--June) against a record 18.24 million tonnes in the previous year.

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com