The Central government, on Friday, said that it will take all necessary steps required to support Indian farmers to produce more pulses.

Importers will also be supported for seamless imports of pulses so that the pulses are available to the consumers at affordable prices, throughout 2023, said Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs during a meeting with pulses associations in India here.

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Global availability of pulses in the coming year is expected to be better with an increase in production expected from Myanmar, where arrivals have started and pulses sowing intentions in African countries indicating an increase in area coverage under pulses, which will be available from August 2023 onwards. This will keep the consistent flow of pulses imports and can address concerns related to availability.

Singh reiterated the importance of both domestic production and the imports of pulses especially Tur, Urad and Masoor.

Expectations from the meeting were spelt clearly to get the industry views. Representatives from India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), Overseas Agro Traders Association (OATA Myanmar), All India Dal mills association, Tamil Nadu Pulses Importers and Exporters Association, iGrain, etc have participated in the meeting.

The representatives of the participating associations expressed that the import policy consistency had helped for a regular flow of imports into the Indian subcontinent keeping the price under control all through the year.

There were a few suggestions related to speedy increasing domestic pulses production, port clearance, exploring new geographies to minimize import dependency on a few countries, an extension of a stable policy regime, etc.

The Department of Consumer Affairs conducts regular interactions with pulses associations in India and in major exporting countries to assess the pulse of the pulses industry and initiate necessary policy measures.

As part of the series of meetings, the department organised a meeting on 15 December to assess the domestic and global pulses scenario and to plan a strategy for next year to ensure the availability of pulses for Indian consumers at affordable prices.