India and Russia Discuss Boosting Trade in Pulses
In a recent meeting, Russia and India explored ways to enhance their trade relationship in the field of pulses. The meeting was attended by Maxim Titov, Deputy Minister of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, and Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs in India.
Russia has become a key supplier of masur (lentils) and yellow peas to India. The country is also considering expanding its production to include urad (black matpe) and tur (pigeon pea) to meet India’s growing demand for protein-rich diets.
Despite being a major producer of pulses, India still relies heavily on imports from countries like Myanmar, Australia, Russia, Canada, and some African nations to meet its domestic needs. The Indian government has been working towards self-sufficiency in pulses, but imports continue to rise due to production deficits in tur, urad, and masur.
The government has observed a significant improvement in the supply of major pulses like tur, urad, and chana since July 2024, thanks to a promising kharif season and ongoing imports. Tur and urad imports for 2024 have already surpassed last year’s figures by early November. Additionally, chana imports from Australia are expected to arrive in bulk this month.
The diversification of source countries for pulses has helped maintain a steady supply at competitive prices, according to the government.
Doubts Revealed
Pulses -: Pulses are a type of food that includes lentils, peas, and beans. They are an important source of protein and are commonly used in Indian cooking.
Lentils -: Lentils are small, round, and flat seeds that come in different colors like green, brown, and red. They are used in many Indian dishes like dal.
Yellow peas -: Yellow peas are a type of pulse that is round and yellow. They are often used in soups and stews.
Urad -: Urad, also known as black gram, is a type of pulse that is black on the outside and white on the inside. It is used to make dishes like idli and dosa.
Tur -: Tur, also known as pigeon pea, is a type of pulse that is commonly used in Indian cooking to make dal.
Self-sufficiency -: Self-sufficiency means being able to produce enough of something, like food, without needing to buy it from other countries.
Production deficits -: Production deficits happen when a country cannot produce enough of a product to meet its needs, so it has to import more from other countries.
Kharif season -: Kharif season is the farming season in India that starts with the onset of the monsoon and ends with the harvest in October. Crops like rice, maize, and pulses are grown during this time.