The dispute with Canada will have an adverse effect on India's lentil imports

New Delhi: The dispute with Canada may affect the supply of pulses in India as India mostly imports lentils from Canada. However, experts say that this crisis can only arise if the dispute with Canada drags on. In the current financial year, the import of lentils from Canada has increased 5 times.

Lentil imports from Canada are increasing rapidly this year. According to Commerce Department data, 4.66 lakh tonnes of lentils were imported in the April-July period of the current financial year, which is 339 per cent higher than 1.06 lakh tonnes in the previous corresponding period.

Of the 4.66 lakh tonnes of pulses imported till July, 1.90 lakh tonnes of lentils have been imported from Canada. Its share in total lentil import is more than 40 percent.

Only 36,807 tonnes of pulses were imported from Canada during the same period of last financial year. Thus, till July of this financial year, lentil imports from Canada have increased more than 5 times.

Of the total 8.58 lakh tonnes of lentils imported in FY 2022-23, 4.85 lakh tonnes from Canada, 5.23 lakh tonnes out of 6.67 lakh tonnes in 2021-22, 9 out of 11.16 lakh tonnes in 2021-22. 09 lakh tonnes of lentils were imported. Out of 8.54 lakh tonnes in 2020-21 and 2019-20, 6.48 lakh tonnes of lentils were imported from Canada.

Importers of pulses said that India is dependent on Canada for import of lentils. In such a situation, it is natural that the dispute with Canada will affect the import of lentils. However, it seems unlikely that this controversy will have much impact at present. If the dispute goes on for a long time, it can have an impact. Because more than half of the lentils produced in Canada are exported to India. In such a situation, it will be difficult for Canada to stop the export of lentils to India.