Pulses: Critic says India’s pulse plan not working

By Dave Sims, Commodity News Service Canada

Winnipeg, May 18 – Bids for navy beans on the Canadian Prairies are holding firm, according to the latest information from the Prairie Ag Hotwire. Prices are listed at 37 cents per pound.
Pinto beans are listed at 39 cents per pound.
Green peas are in a range of C$7.80 to C$8.50 per bushel.
The USDA has purchased US$3 million worth of beans for its food assistance program. Varieties included in the purchase are blacks, blackeyes, light red kidney, and pintos.
A global market commodities specialist in India is criticizing the government’s handling of its pulse industry. Writing in the Hindu Businessline, Guruswamy Chandrashekhar argues too many ministries (Agriculture, Food and Consumer Affairs, Commerce, Finance) are involved in the handling of the pulse industry. He also says the government has failed to stem the flow of low-priced pulse imports that lower domestic prices. What’s more, he says the government’s decision to lift storage restrictions is several weeks too late and won’t benefit the industry. He feels out-of-country suppliers are carefully watching these developments and will take advantage of the situation much to the detriment of Indian farmers.
The government of Bangladesh began an open market sale of lentils this week in an effort to keep their prices stable in the days before Ramadan, according to a report in The Daily Star. 187 trucks will visit approximately five dozen communities where they will sell the lentils, and a few other basic essentials, at subsidized prices.