New Delhi (PTI): Prices of domestic pulses may shoot up in the current year if India does not relax pest control guidelines for import of pulses from the US and Canada.
"Unless the fumigation requirement is modified, pulses exports from North America to India will be in jeopardy, which could further exacerbate the Indian pulse supply situation leading to a further significant rise in domestic pulse prices," the US Department of Agriculture said in its latest report.
Currently in the wholesale market, tur is ruling at Rs 44 per kg and gram at 30 per kg, according to official data.
While prices of urad stood Rs 26 per kg, green gram (moong) at Rs 30 per kg, and peas white at Rs 20 per kg.
India, which imports on an average over one lakh tonnes of pulses from the US, may face supply crunch due to the costly procedure of fumigation required to be met at the port of loading, it said.
The country had in 2004 made fumigation procedure mandatory on import of peas and chickpeas from all origin. It was recently extended till March.
Fumigation is a method of pest control that fills an area with gaseous pesticides to suffocate or poison the pests. It is done by 'methyl bromide' to protect spread of plant parasites like stem and bulb nematode and pea cyst nematode into domestic production.
Source : The Hindu