PTIIndia, Burma In Talks On Pulses

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Subject: PTIIndia, Burma In Talks On Pulses Trade

India, Burma In Talks On Pulses Trade
NEW DELHI, July 6 Asia Pulse - India is holding talks with Myanmar for a
long-term import of pulses on a government-to-government basis to meet its
rising demand, official sources said today.
A five-member delegation led by S M Acharya, joint secretary in the commerce
ministry had held talks with one of the departments in Myanmar involved in
pulses exports, the sources said.

Officials from the State Trading Corporation (STC), National Co-operative
Agricultural Marketing Federation (NAFED) and Department of Economics in the
finance ministry were also in the delegation.

Concerned over pulses demand outstripping supply and rising prices,
government had last year decided to allow its import under open general
license (OGL).

Despite being the largest pulses producer in the world, India is also the
largest importer in view of its rising population.

India's pulses production had stagnated to around 13 million tonnes during
the last few years but in 1998-99 it has been estimated to have increased to
15.19 million tonnes in view of a rise in the area of cultivation of gram.

The sources said government was awaiting for Myanmar's response to ship
pulses.

"We are awaiting myanmar to indicate their standpoint," they said.

India would settle for imports as per its demand and future requirements
would also depend according to the need.

The food ministry would take a decision on the exact requirement, they said.

"Currently, we are only trying to build a bridge (for trade between both the
countries)," they added.

Last year, during his visit to Myanmar, agriculture minister Sompal had
offered India's expertise to Yangon for increasing agricultural production,
especially pulses.

(PTI)