India’s dal imports at 6-year high

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India’s pulses imports in fiscal 2024 surged 84% year-on-year to their highest level in six years.

Quantity: India imported 4.65 million metric tons of pulses, the highest since fiscal 2018.
Value: In value terms, imports in the year jumped 93% to $3.75 billion
Reasons: Lower production prompted India to allow duty-free imports of red lentils and yellow peas.

Global ranking: India is the largest producer, consumer, and importer of pulses Globally.
Major producing states: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.
Major pulses: Chickpeas (Gram), Pigeon pea (Tur/Arhar), Mungbeans, Urdbeans (Blackgram), Lentil, Peas and various kinds of Beans (Minor Pulses).
- Gram contributes around 40% of total pulse production followed by Tur/Arhar (15-20%)
Countries for import: India imports mainly from Australia, Canada, Russia, Turkey, Tanzania, Sudan, Mozambique, Malawi, and Myanmar.
Major export destinations: Bangladesh, China, UAE, U.S.A and Nepal

Nutritional value: Pulses are 20-25% protein by weight and rich in soluble fiber.
Less water intensive: More than 80% of total pulses are grown in the rainfed region.
Sustainable agriculture: Nitrogen-fixing properties of pulses improve soil fertility, and climate change mitigation by reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers.

National Food Security Mission (NFSM): To increase the production of pulses through area expansion and productivity enhancement.
Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM- AASHA): Oilseeds and Pulses are procured from registered farmers under its Price Support Scheme at Minimum Support Price.
Crop Diversification Programme (CDP): A sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana in the original Green Revolution States (Haryana, Punjab & Western Uttar Pradesh) to divert the area of water-intensive paddy crop to alternative crops including pulses.