India to Import Tur Dal from Mozambique

• 05 Aug 2024

Source: IE

Why in News?

Recently, India has restarted the import of Tur dal (Pigeon pea) from Mozambique after it was disrupted by an “anti-India” group.

What is the Current State of Pulses Import in India?

• India imported 4.65 million metric tons of pulses in the fiscal year 2023-24 (up from 2.53 million tons in 2022-23), the highest since 2018-19.
  • In value terms, imports of pulses jumped 93% to USD 3.75 billion.
• In 2023-24, India imported 7.71 lakh tons of Tur/Pigeon pea, with 2.64 lakh tons (one-third) from Mozambique. Malawi is also a major supplier of tur to India.
  • Mozambique has an MoU with India to supply 2 lakh tons of Tur/Pigeon peas until 2025-26, providing assured market access. Similarly, an MoU with Malawi ensures an annual supply of 0.50 lakh tons to India.
• Red lentil imports, particularly from Canada, doubled to 1.2 million tons.
• Yellow peas are imported from Russia and Turkey.
• The South Asian nations including India, usually import pulses from Canada, Myanmar, Australia, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

What is the Status of Pulse Production in India?

• India is the largest producer (25% of global production), consumer (27% of world consumption) and importer (14%) of pulses in the world.
• Pulses account for around 20% of the area under food grains and contribute around 7-10% of the total food grain production in the country.
• Gram is the most dominant pulse having a share of around 40% in the total production followed by Tur/Arhar at 15 to 20% and Urad/Black Matpe and Moong at around 8-10 % each.
• Though pulses are grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons, Rabi pulses contribute more than 60% of the total production.
• The top 5 pulses-producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.

What are Key Facts About Tur dal (Pigeon Pea)?

• It is a vital legume crop and protein source in India.
• It thrives in tropical and semi-arid regions.
• Climatic Requirements:
  • Rainfall: Needs 600-650 mm annually, with moist conditions early on and dry conditions during flowering and pod development.
  • Temperature: Grows best at 26°C to 30°C in the rainy season and 17°C to 22°C post-rainy season.
  • Soil: Prefers sandy loam or loam, though it can adapt to various soil types.
• It is sensitive to low radiation during pod development, leading to poor pod formation if flowering occurs in monsoon or cloudy conditions.
• Key diseases include Wilt, Sterility Mosaic Disease, Phytophthora Blight, Alternaria Blight, and Powdery Mildew.
• Top Producer States (2019): Karnataka, Maharashtra, UP

Government Initiatives to Boost Pulses Production in India

• Policy Support: The policy prescription for ensuring reasonable prices to the farmers largely centres around procuring the pulses by providing Minimum Support Prices (MSP) to the farmers through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and more recently through Small Farmers Agri Consortium (SFAC).
• National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Pulses.
• ICAR's Role in Research and Variety Development
• Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) Scheme

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements: (2020)

1. Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crop.
2. Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production.
3. In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production of rabi pulses has decreased.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: A