In a diplomatic dance of legumes, India, after securing memorandums with Mozambique, Malawi, and Myanmar, extends its pulse-seeking hands to Argentina and Brazil. The deal entails these South American nations committing to cultivating tur and urad varieties, bound by an obligation to export the yield back to the Indian subcontinent.
India’s Sway towards Argentina and Brazil
Initiating talks with Argentinian authorities, discussions took root under the watchful eye of the Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs. The recent tête-à-tête with Argentina’s ambassador, Hugo Javier Gobbi, planted the seeds for potential pulse growth in the South American soil. Meanwhile, a visit from Brazilian officials sparked discussions urging Brazil to explore this pulse-pounding deal with India.
The Indian government strategically aims to diversify its pulse import sources, breaking free from reliance on a handful of nations. While pulses find limited local tables in South American countries, the conducive climates of Argentina and Brazil make them fertile grounds for growing urad and tur, destined for Indian plates.
International Pulse Exchange – Trade Dynamics
This year, India imported a hefty 2.28 million tonnes of pulses, featuring lentils, tur (pigeon pea), and urad (black gram). Key contributors include Australia, Canada, Myanmar, Mozambique, Tanzania, Sudan, and Malawi. Brazil, a significant pulses producer, annually churns out 3 million tonnes, serving domestic needs and exporting to Vietnam, Pakistan, and Egypt.
Beyond the Americas, India eyes Ethiopia and Tanzania as potential pulse cultivation partners. The focus remains on bolstering domestic supplies, broadening the pulse spectrum that graces Indian kitchens.
From Mozambique to Malawi
Recalling past pulse pacts, India inked a memorandum with Mozambique for an annual 0.2 million tonnes of arhar, stretching over a decade. The deal, born amidst soaring tur prices in 2016, extends its pulse-driven lifespan to 2026. In 2021, fresh alliances with Malawi and Myanmar for annual tur imports continue this pulse-forward narrative.
Despite a record-breaking pulse production of 26.05 million tonnes in the 2022-23 crop year, the chana (gram) variety stands as the crown jewel with a 50% share. The country, self-sufficient in chana and moong pulses, grapples with a persistent gap between demand and supply stemming from protein needs in its predominantly vegetarian population.
Approximately 15% of domestic pulse consumption relies on imports, a crucial lifeline in the face of retail inflation, particularly in the ‘pulses and products’ category, which surged to 18.79% YoY in October.
In navigating the complex landscape of pulses, the demand and supply reflect the intricacies of culinary and economic palates. As India extends its pulse partnerships worldwide, a nuanced approach is essential, recognizing the interconnected threads that weave through global pulses and product markets.