DAL IMPORTS -
AGRICULTURE
News: Why dal imports have hit a
seven-year high
What's in the news?
●
India’s pulses imports in fiscal 2024 surged 84% year-on-year to their
highest level in six years.
Rise in Import in FY
2023-2024:
●
Quantity - India imported 4.65 million metric tons of
pulses, the highest since fiscal 2018.
●
Value - In value terms, imports in the year jumped 93%
to $3.75 billion
Reasons for Rise in
Imports:
●
Lower production prompted India to allow duty-free imports of red
lentils and yellow peas.
Pulses in India:
1. Global ranking:
●
India is the largest producer, consumer, and importer of
pulses globally.
2. Major Producing
States:
●
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and
Karnataka.
3. Major Pulses:
●
Chickpeas (Gram), Pigeon pea (Tur/Arhar),
Mungbeans, Urdbeans (Blackgram), Lentil, Peas and various kinds of Beans (Minor
Pulses).
●
Gram contributes around 40% of total pulse production
followed by Tur/Arhar (15-20%)
4. Countries for Import:
●
India imports mainly from Australia, Canada, Russia, Turkey, Tanzania, Sudan, Mozambique,
Malawi, and Myanmar.
5. Major Export
Destinations:
●
Bangladesh, China, UAE, U.S.A and Nepal.
Initiatives to Promote
Pulses Production:
1. National Food
Security Mission (NFSM):
●
To increase the production of pulses through area
expansion and productivity enhancement.
2. Pradhan Mantri
Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM- AASHA):
●
Oilseeds and Pulses are procured from registered
farmers under its Price Support Scheme at Minimum Support Price.
3. Crop Diversification
Programme (CDP):
●
A sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana in the original Green Revolution
States (Haryana, Punjab and Western Uttar Pradesh) to divert the area of
water-intensive paddy crop to alternative crops including pulses.
Significance of Pulses:
●
Nutritional Value - Pulses are 20-25% protein by weight and rich in
soluble fiber.
●
Less Water Intensive - More than 80% of total
pulses are grown in the rainfed region.
●
Sustainable Agriculture - Nitrogen-fixing properties
of pulses improve soil fertility, and climate change mitigation by reducing
dependence on synthetic fertilizers.