MarketsFarm — Cold weather in key growing regions of India could indicate high production levels for winter pulse crops.
Heavy showers and colder temperatures in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh created “ideal conditions” for winter-sown pulses, according to India’s agriculture commissioner SK Malhotra.
Malhotra explained that the output of the winter-grown pulse crops will likely be high enough to offset the shortfall in production caused by challenging growing conditions during the monsoon season.
India has set ambitious targets for pulse production. At a World Pulses Day event earlier in the year, India’s agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the country is on track to produce all of the pulses it consumes, instead of relying on imports.
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“The likelihood of India moving away from a deep import quota or tariff protectionism policy is low,” said Mike Jubinville of MarketsFarm.
“That should mean a strong buyer’s market in 2020-21,” due to India’s aversion to price-chasing behaviour, he said.
In the previous growing season, pulse production was pegged at 23.4 million tonnes. Last year, the country’s pulse consumption totaled about 27 million tonnes.
— Marlo Glass reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.
