India Likely Importing More Pulses
WASHINGTON - Feb 26/09 - SNS -- Pulse imports by India will likely increase slightly in 2009-10 despite a solid improvement in the estimated size of the winter or rabi season pulse harvest, according to a recent report by the U.S. agricultural attache or the country.
Total pulse output for 2009-10 is forecast at 14.3 million metric tons (MT), marginally lower than the revised 2008-09 production of 14.8 million MT.
"A significant decline in kharif season pulse production (mostly pigeon peas, mung beans, and black matpe), tentatively estimated by the government at 4.8 million MT compared to 6.4 million MT in the previous year, due to uneven monsoon rains in major growing areas, will be largely offset by higher production in the rabi season," the U.S. agricultural attache said.
"According to preliminary planting data, area planted to rabi pulses, which include mostly chickpeas, lentils, and peas, at 13.8 million hectares, is almost one million hectares more than last year.
"Combined with generally favorable growing conditions, the area growth would result in a record production of around 9.5 million MT, compared with 8.4 million MT last year."
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