August 26, 2011

India's 2011-12 pulses crop may hit 16-17 tonnes

The pulses production in India is projected to reach 16-17 million tonnes in the 2011-12 crop year, despite 10% drop in kharif crop, a top official of India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA) stated.

"Our estimate of pulses production to touch 16-17 million tonnes in crop year 2011-12 as against government's estimation of 18-19 tonnes. Despite the 10% decline in kharif crop, the pulses production target will be maintained at 16 tonnes of last year due to better rabi crop, said IPGA's Vice President Bimal Kothari.

The rabi crop is estimated at 10 tonnes and Kharif at 6-7 tonnes, Kothari said, adding that the chana crop in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan is likely to be good due to better rain in the area. Due to better crop, the country is expected to import two tonnes of pulses in FY 12 as against three tonnes of import last year, Kothari said.

India has had a good monsoon this year and the sowing process for the Kharif crop has been good. The excellent monsoon will also impart good subsoil moisture thereby assisting in increasing the Rabi crop acreage for chana and peas which gets sowed in December and harvested in March, IPGA, President Pravin Dongre said.

As a matter of fact, this is the first time in the last five years that the prices of pulses have contributed negatively to the inflation which meant that pulses remained within the reach of the common man, he added.