NEW DELHI: The government has asked MMTC and other trading agencies, to buy pulses from abroad, to meet the domestic demand and check inflation.
The government has issued a tender to import around 5,000 tonnes of pigeon peas from September. The move is aimed at checking the rising prices of pulse and bridging the demand-supply gap in the domestic market.
In order to check inflation and ensure adequate supply of pulses in the country, the government has asked MMTC and other trading agencies to buy pulses from abroad, according to reports.
The MMTC has already invited bids for the supply of 5,000 tonnes of pigeon peas and the quantity can be increased further, the report said.
Importers of pigeon peas from Myanmar, Malawi or Mozambique can send their bids by July 10 and a shipment of 2,500 tonnes each must reach Mumbai and Chennai by September 15, said the tender document issued by MMTC on Monday.
The price of pigeon peas and other pulses have been soaring in the country due to the lack of adequate supply. Estimates say that bad weather reduced the domestic production by around 2 million tonnes from 19 million tonnes during crop year 2013-14 to 17 million tonnes during July 2014 and June 2015.
