Market Information
Asia Pacific

Pulses - Brief - India

August 2003

Introduction

India is the world's largest producer and consumer of peas and pulses (grain legumes) with production varying between 11.00 - 14.00 million metric tonnes (mmt) which accounts for about 25% of the global production. India is also a major importer of peas/pulses with over 10% share of world imports in recent years. All varieties of pulses, except lupins, faba beans and dun peas, are grown in India. Pulse production has been stagnant in India resulting in steady decline in per capita availability over the past 50 years.

Pulses are grown over an area of around 21 million hectares accounting for about 17% of total area, and less than 7% of total food grain production, and the yield per hectare ranging between 600 - 650 kg. Pulses are grown in India mainly under unirrigated conditions and the irrigated area accounts for less than 10% of the total area under pulses crops. Major pulses grown in India are chick peas (desi type) and Pigeon peas (Arhar). Their share in the total pulses production is about 40% and 18% respectively.

India's Pulse Production

There are two crops in India, namely Kharif (summer crop) harvested in September and Rabi (winter crop) harvested in March/April. Pulse is a common name for all varieties of dry peas, lentils, beans, and chick peas. A wide range of pulses is grown in India, such as, chick peas (desi type) pigeon peas, black matpe, mung beans, lentils, moth beans, horsegrams, and peas. Between 1995 and 2001, desi chickpea and pigeon pea production averaged about 5.4 mmt and 2.4 mmt respectively. Production of other pulse crops, including kabuli type chickpea which is not separately identified from desi type chickpea, is relatively small. About 10% of the desi chickpeas grown in India are green-seeded. They remain green in colour even when dried.

(Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India)

Madhya Pradesh is the biggest pulse producing state with about 25% of the total production, followed by Uttar Pradesh (18%), Maharashtra (15%), Rajasthan (14%), Karnataka (5%), Andhra Pradesh (5%), and Bihar (5%). Generally, pulses are grown in both kharif (summer) and rabi (winter) crops. Chickpeas, lentils and dry peas are grown in cool season (rabi crop), while pigeon peas, black matpe, mung beans, horsegram, and moth beans are produced in the warm rainy season (kharif crop).

Chick peas
(desi and kabuli type)

• Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar
  Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh

Dry peas

• Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa,
  Rajasthan

Lentil

• Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West
  Bengal, Rajasthan

A very small share of pulse acreage (about 10-12 per cent) is irrigated, reflecting both the rainfed conditions in traditional pulse-growing areas, and the inability of relatively low-productivity pulses to compete with other crops, such as, wheat and rice, in irrigated land. Pulse production is also hampered by the minimum support prices (MSP) for pulses, announced by the government every year and which are generally below market prices. Thus, the government assistance is rarely utilized by the farmer. In contrast, the MSP and government procurement programs for wheat and rice are more attractive encouraging farmers to grow those crops.

India's Pulse Consumption

Pulses are an important source of protein in the Indian diet. Although, dairy products are widely consumed, majority of Indians do not eat meat due to religious reasons. Due to stagnant production of pulses, rising population and limited imports, the per capita availability of pulses has come down to 29.1 grams per day in 2001, as compared with over 70.0 grams in mid fifties.

Almost each house-hold in India use pulses. Although, particular varieties of pulses are preferred in different parts of the country, food habits are easily changed according to availability of pulses. The Indian market is also price sensitive, if the price of one particular variety of pulse goes up, people switch over to other varieties. Most pulses are generally consumed in split form either with or without the skin. However, green peas and kabuli chickpeas (known as garbanzo beans) are consumed whole. On average about 10% of the production of desi chickpeas and pigeon peas is used for animal feed. Generally the main usage of pulses in India is as follows:

Marketing

There are wholesale specialized pulses markets throughout India which route domestic and imported pulses to retailers. Delhi's Naya Bazar is the largest wholesale pulse market in India. Other major wholesale markets are located in Mumbai (Vashi), Kolkata (Postha), and Chennai (G.N. Street). About 150-200 wholesalers operate in the Delhi and Mumbai markets. As each seller operates independently, the wholesale trade is generally fragmented. There is no official price reporting or regulating mechanism in place in any of these markets. Pulses are generally not branded, however, of late some millers have starting branding their products. However, the wholesalers pass on the "country of origin" information to the retailers. There are several layers in the marketing chain between the farmer or importer and consumer:

• importer/trader
• splitting plants or dal mills
• wholesaler
• retailer
• consumer

In most cases wholesalers and dal mills are importers themselves. Frequency of transactions is highest at the wholesale level, as commodities change hands several times with the assistance of brokers or commission agents.

Department of Food & Civil Supplies of the respective state governments issues licenses to wholesalers, commission agents, and retailers. A wholesaler can stock up to 2000 bags (200 tonnes), a retailer up to 20 bags (2 tonnes), and a commission agent (middle man) can have unlimited stocks, but has to dispose of the stocks within 15 days. At present all the states follow the same stock limits. However, as the import of pulses is now freely allowed, there is no risk of hoarding and black-marketing of pulses, as a result of which many state governments are seriously considering to remove the stocks restriction. The Delhi government has already passed a resolution, and the stock restriction may be removed any time.

Quality Standards

There are no quality standards. Most of the pulses are classified as "fair to average quality" (FAQ) which is the only recognized grade in the Indian marketing system. This grade is also not standardized and people assess the grade by visual inspection of colour, size and texture. However, standards of the exporting countries are followed for imported pulses. For example, while importing from Canada, they follow the Canadian Grain Commission standards, or NACMA (National Agricultural Commodities Marketing Association Ltd) standards for imports from Australia or trade rules set up by the National Dry Bean Council in case of USA. When an exporting country also does not have any quality standards, the following quality parameters are considered for evaluating the quality and which are incorporated in the sales contract:

• foreign matter
• size of the grain
• damaged, discoloured, weeviled, other seeds
• moisture content
• colour of the grains

Imports

The Indian Government continues to permit private trade to import pulses without any licensing restrictions to supplement domestic availability. In order to control the prices of pulses in the domestic market, it increases or decreases the import duty from time to time. The present rate of customs duty (or import duty) is 10% ad valorem.

A phyto-sanitary certificate that the "plants and plant products described in the shipping documents have been inspected according to appropriate procedures and are considered to be free from quarantine pests, and practically free from other injurious pests, and that they are considered to conform to the current phyto-sanitary regulations of the importing country", issued by a competent authority must accompany each shipment. In the absence of a phyto-sanitary certificate, the shipment is generally not released by the Plant and Quarantine officials at the port of entry.

Main varieties of pulses imported from various sources include: Green/yellow peas (Canada, USA, Hungary, New Zealand, France, Germany); Dun Peas (Australia); Desi chickpeas (Canada, Australia, Tanzania, China, Ethiopia); Kabuli chickpeas (Canada, Australia, Mexico, USA, Turkey, Iran); Lentils (Canada, Australia, Turkey). Potential for other varieties of peas and pulses which are fit for human consumption and are cheaper, can be investigated.

Quantity: Metric tones Year : April-March
Source: Government of India

Competition

India is a very competitive and price-sensitive market. While quality is an important factor, price plays a major role in decision making of buyers. Of late, several new sources of supply of dried green/yellow peas, kabuli chickpeas, lentils and other varieties have emerged making India a Buyers' market.

In the year 2002 (Jan.-Dec.) India imported 2.319 million tonnes of total pulses, out of which Canada supplied about 533,890 metric tonnes and ranked second largest supplier to India, after Myanamar.

Suggested Strategy for Canadian companies

India is a big market, with potential to expand upto 2.5 to 3.0 million tonnes or more of peas and pulses annually.

• It is important for Canadian suppliers to maintain consistent quality in order to have a strong foothold in the market.
• Canadian suppliers should visit the market place and meet with individual buyers in order to have an on-the-spot assessment of the Indian needs.
• Indian buyers should be invited to Canada to showcase Canadian products and to build awareness of Canadian supply capabilities among Indian buyers. This could involve a number of initiatives such as incoming and outgoing missions, seminars etc.
• Some new sources of supply such as France, Germany, Denmark and Iran have emerged during the last year or so. Canadian suppliers will have to keep their relations with Indian buyers in top gear.

General:

For further information contact the Canadian High Commission at New Delhi, or our offices at Mumbai, Bangalore and Chandigarh.

Prepared by:

R.N. Gupta, Senior Advisor (Trade)
Canadian High Commission
New Delhi - 110 021. India
August 2003

Some Leading Indian Importers of Peas & Pulses

Adani Exports Limited
Mr. Atul Chaturvedi
President- Agro Commodities
Adani House, Shrimali Society
Navrangpura
Ahmedabad, Gujarat India 380 009
Phone : 079-656 5555
Fax : 91-79-656 5500
E-mail : atul@adanigroup.com

Agrimpex India Private Limited
Mr. Arun K. Shah
Director
703, Maker Chambers 5,
221 Nariman Point
Mumbai, Maharashtra India 400 021
Phone : 91-22-2282 0500
Fax : 91-22-2287 3316
E-mail : agrimpex@bom3.vsnl.net.in

Deepak Enterprises
Mr Karan Vir Kapoor
Director
4067 Naya Bazar
Delhi India 110 006
Phone : 2396 4278/2392 7719
Fax : 91-11-398 2076

Andagro Services Pvt. Ltd.
Mr Pravin Dongre
General Manager
501 Dalamal House
Nariman Point
Bombay, Maharashtra India 400 021.
Phone : 91-22-2285 2863, 0758
Fax : 91-22-2285 0759

Banwari Lal Shiv Chand Rai
Mr Raj Kumar
4077-78 Naya Bazar
Delhi India 110 006
Phone : 23910254
Fax : 91-11-746 1483

Bheda Brothers
Mr. S. L. Bheda
Partner
202, Kapadia Apartments, 39 S. V. Road
Vile Parle (W)
Mumbai, Maharashtra India 400 056
Phone : 91-22-2619 2325
Fax : 91-22-2619 2331
E-mail : bheda@bom2.vsnl.net.in

Birla International Marketing Corp.
Mr. Sushil Khosla
Marketing Manager
406 Bhikaiji Cama Bhavan
Bhikaiji Cama Place
New Delhi, Delhi India 110 066
Phone : 91-11-2618 1501
Fax : 91-11-2618 1498
E-mail : bimc@del2.vsnl.net.in

Canny Overseas Pvt. Ltd.
Mr Adarsh Gupta
Director
B-170 Priyadarshini Vihar
New Delhi India 110092
Phone : 91-11-2251 9868
Fax : 91-11-2251 9869
E-mail: canny@vsnl.net

Cargill India Ltd.
Mr B.K. Anand
Merchant - Grain & Oil Seeds
DLF Gateway Tower
DLF City Phase III
Gurgaon, Haryana India 122 002
Phone : 95124-235 8939/40
Fax : 95124-235 8977/78
E-mail : bal_anand@cargill.com

Commodities (India) Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Arvind Kumar Bansal
Director
314, Maker Bhawan No.3
21, New Marine Lines
Mumbai, Maharashtra India 400 020
Phone : 91-22-208 4810, 22088476
Fax: 91-22-2290046

Jindal Overseas Corporation
Mr Pradeep Jindal
Director
4094-95 Naya Bazar
Delhi, Delhi India 110 006
Phone : 2397 7532,396 9537/23908131
Fax : 91-11-2294 1404
E-mail : jindaloc@vsnl.net.in

Garg Trading Company
Mr. S. Aggarwal
Managing Director
4083 Naya Bazar
Delhi India 110 006
Phone : 91-11-23962494/2398 5167
Fax : 91-11-2391 9755
E-mail : icfl@bol.net.in

Keshav Overseas
Mr Praveen Goyal
Director
Plot 17, Block A-3, Sector 3
Rohini
Delhi India 110 085
Phone : 91-11-27516050/27521325
Fax : 91-11-2716 5579
E-mail : goyalp@satyam.net.in

Jhunjhunwala Vanaspati Limited
Mr. S. N. Jhunjhunwala
Director
Jhunjhunwala Bhawan, Nati Lmli
Varanasi India 221 001
Phone: 91-542-2585220/402
Fax: 91-542-210480
E-mail: jhoola@lw1.vsnl.net.in

Madhya Pradesh Glychem Industries Ltd.
Mr. Suresh Shahra
Managing Director
201 Mahkosh House
7/5 South Tukoganj
Nath Mandir
Indore, M.P India 452 001
Phone : 91-731-2513281,2513213
Fax : 91-731-2513285
E-mail : ruchi/indore@dartmail.dartnet.com

Mahesh Agro (P) Ltd.
Mr Mahesh Kumar Goyal/Ravi Goyal
Director
5585, 1^st Floor, Lahori Gate, Naya Bazar
Delhi India 110 006
Phone : 91-11-23945959
Fax : 91-11-2398 4600
E-mail: rail@ndf.vsnl.net.in

M. Lakhamsi & Co.
Mr. Mulchand L. Sawla
505, Charchgate Chambers
5, New Marine Lines
Mumbai, Maharashtra India 400 021
Phone : 91-22-2262 0722
Fax : 91-22-2262 0706
E-mail : sawla@hotmail.com
info@mlakhamsi.com

National Steel Industries Ltd.
Mr Santosh Sahara
Managing Director
Commodities Division
621 Tulsiani Chambers, Nariman Point
Mumbai India 400 021
Phone :91-22-23739182
Fax : 91-22-202 5084
E-mail: g-maheshwari@ruchigroup.com

Navjivan Gawar Gum and Dal Mill
Mr. Deepak Jain
Director
4141 Naya Bazar
Delhi India 110 006
Phone : 91-11-2396 4122, 2396 0338
Fax : 91-11-2396 4122
E-mail: rimpltex@sancharnet.in

Premji Ghellabhai & Co.
Mr. Sanjay Shah
3, Chinch Bunder
Mumbai, Maharashtra India 400 009
Phone : 91-22-377 6856
Fax : 91-22-373 8394
E-mail : premji.vsnl.com

Rathi International
Mr S.G. Rathi
Executive Director
Rathi Building
Purulia, WB India 723 101
Phone : 03252-22 4651566/23 086
Fax : 03252-24 651
E-mail : rathintl@cal2.vsnl.net.in

Rajaram Agencies Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. N. Karunakaran
Chief Executive
3 French Chapel Road
Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu India 628 001
Phone: 91-461-320202
Fax: 91-461-325201
E-mail:rajarama@vsnl.com

Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd.
Mr. Pankaj Tiwari
214 Tulsani Chambers
Nariman Point
Mumbai, Maharashtra India 400 021
Phone : 91-22-22824851
Fax : 91-22-2042865

Premier Cereals Ltd.
4114 Naya Bazar
Delhi-110 006
Phone: 91-11-2397 0352
Fax: 91-11-393 5995
E-mail: purepulsesdel@vsnl.net