India lifts bar on pulse export

India yesterday lifted a bar on export of all types of pulses to ensure that farmers have greater choice in marketing their produce and get better returns.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said an official statement.

The government said the move would also help the country and its exporters regain their markets.

The CCEA also empowered a committee, chaired by the secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, to review the export-import policy on pulses.

It will also consider measures like quantitative restrictions, prior registration and changes in import duties depending on domestic production and demand, domestic and international prices and international trade volumes, said the statement.

Allowing export of all types of pulses will help farmers sell off their products at remunerative prices and encourage them to bring more land under pulse cultivation, it said.

The “export of pulses would provide an alternative market for the surplus production,” it added.

In the 2016-17 production year, Indian farmers produced 22.95 million tonnes of pulses, the country's highest till date, reducing dependence on imports, said the statement.

Chana dal (gram) production was 9.33 million tonnes as compared to 7.06 million tonnes in 2015-16, showing growth of 32 percent.

Production of other Rabi pulses (including masoor dal or lentil) for 2016-17 was 3.02 million tonnes as compared to 2.47 million tonnes in 2015-16, again growing by 22 percent.

The government has targeted producing 22.9 million tonnes of pulses in the year 2017-18.

The government has supported farmers by providing attractive Minimum Support Price for pulses and going for public procurement of pulses to the tune of 2 million tonnes, the statement said.