Despite the increase in pulses production, reliance on imports increased due to high demand

- Many pulse producing countries were seen increasing production based on India's demand: Consumption of pulses increased after Corona period

The demand of various pulses and pulses in the country and abroad has been seen increasing in recent years. According to the sources of the pulses market, especially after the Corona period, people have become more serious about their health and due to this, the consumption of pulses has also increased. According to the Director General of Foreign Trade, the demand for various pulses has been seen increasing in India and such demand growth is likely to continue in the coming years. The economy of India is developing rapidly and the size of the economy is expected to reach the level of five trillion dollars and sources were showing the possibility of a significant increase in the demand for pulses in the market as the purchasing power of the people increases. While the production of various pulses has increased in India, the import of various pulses from the sea has recently increased in the country as the demand growth has increased at a faster pace, the informants said. According to an estimate, more than 30 lakh tonnes of various pulses are imported into India every year. As India's economy grows to five trillion dollars in the next few years, domestic demand for various pulses and pulses is expected to rise. In such circumstances, the informants were showing the fear of further increase in the import of various pulses in the country if domestic production does not increase proportionally. The production of pulses in India in 2016-17 is around 170 lakh tonnes annually. It recently increased to around 250 to 260 lakh tonnes per annum. Domestic production has increased but imports from overseas have increased due to higher demand growth. India's economy currently has a size of 3.70 trillion dollars, which economists are showing the possibility of increasing to 5 trillion dollars.

According to the sources of the Reserve Bank and the sources of the International Monetary Fund, the IMF does not have to wait much longer for India's economy to reach five trillion dollars. And in such an environment, the demand for various pulses with abundant amount of protein has become stronger. In recent years, 25 to 30 lakh tonnes of pulses have been imported annually in India. So far in the current financial year 2023-24, the import of pulses in the country has reached 30 lakh tonnes. In addition to the world's bean producing countries in Africa, Brazil, Australia, Canada and Russia are eyeing India's demand. India has signed MoU agreements with three African countries and under this agreement, India has given assurance to these African countries that India will continue to import various pulses produced in these African countries. Apart from this, the government has also said that the import of certain pulses in the country on duty free basis will be continued till the end of March 2025. Now the overseas pulse producers are producing pulses in their own country based on the demand of India. However, the Indian government recently warned Myanmar not to take advantage of India's soft import policy. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs of the Central Government has made it clear to the overseas pulses exporters that if any cartel producing pulses applies its terms to India, it will not run India. The government is trying to increase the import of urad from Brazil and Argentina to India.