World pulses trade meet to look into demand-supply outlook

Thursday, 18 April 2013 00:56 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SINGAPORE: With nearly 1,000 delegates streaming in from over 50 countries to discuss latest developments in the world pulses sector and crystal-gaze into the future, the atmosphere here at the annual meet of International Pulses Trade and Industry Confederation (CICILS-IPTIC) is one of heightened expectation.

Producers, processors, industrial consumers, traders and related others are keen to know from specialists what the market holds for them in 2013-14. Experts are slated to discuss a wide range of topics over the next three days including global pulses demand and supply outlook, global food security from health and nutrition perspective, product innovation, emerging markets and global influences, and specific product-wise panel discussions.

A cross section of traders and millers Business Line spoke to said that the world market was adequately supplied this year and therefore, the opportunity for a bullish trend was rather limited. At the same time, supply stress can develop in case of specific crops such as lentils in the coming months.

CICILS-IPTIC is attempting to get 2016 declared as the International Year of Pulses by the United Nations. According to Hakan Bahceci, President of the confederation, pulses play a vital role in advancing the world’s food and nutrition security, and their role assumes greater importance for developing or poor countries that face pervasive malnutrition or under-nutrition.

India, the world’s largest producer, importer and consumer of a wide range of pulses, is obviously a focus of attention at such events, especially for exporting countries such as Canada, Australia, US and Myanmar.

India’s pulses production in 2012-13 is an estimated 17.7 million tons (mt), up from last year’s 17.1 mt.

India’s annual imports of pulses are estimated at about 30 lakh tons valued at over Rs. 9,000 crore.

For 2013-14, the Government has fixed a production target of 19 mt, with specific measures including crop diversification and mixed cropping.

A steady increase in minimum support price in the last three years has provided some encouragement to growers.

Market participants are also wondering as to when India will start exporting pulses in an unrestricted policy environment. South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are all importers of pulses.