Smaller Indian Pulse Crop

VANCOUVER - Apr 6/07 - SNS -- Desi chickpea and field pea markets were also pleased by news the Indian government lowered its production estimate for 2006-07 pulses from 14.52 million to 14.1 million MT on account of smaller than expected rabi season crops.

Within the pulse sector, the Indian government said gram or desi-type chickpea output sank from an expected 6.16 million to an estimated 5.97 million MT.

The decline in the estimated size of the pulse harvest comes at the same time estimated total food grain production was boosted from 109.17 to 211.78 million MT.

Wheat output is now pegged at 73.70 million MT, up from 72.5 million. The estimated size of the rice harvest was increased from 90.13 to 91.79 million MT; corn from 13.56 to 13.85 million; bajra from 7.54 to 8.27 million; and jowar reduced from 7.72 to 7.63 million MT.

India's oilseed harvest is now expected to total 23.26 million MT, down from initial forecasts of a 23.62 million MT crop. Estimated rapeseed-mustard output was reduced from 7.57 million MT to 6.69 million MT, while groundnut estimates advanced from 4.41 to 4.98 million MT.

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