Indian Govt. extends ban on pulses exports till March 2012

(Reuters) - India, the world's biggest producer and consumer of pulses, has extended a ban on export of the commodity till March 2012 as the government battles stubbornly high inflation.

The government had in June 2006 banned exports of pulses and the ban has stayed in place since, though it has been reviewed from time to time.

The commodity has a weight age of 0.72 percent in the wholesale price index. See

However, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a statement late on Wednesday, exports of Kabuli chana and organic pulses, with a ceiling of 10,000 tonnes, was allowed.

The country's total pulses output in 2010/11 is likely to rise to 16.51 million tonnes from 14.66 million tonnes a year ago, the farm ministry said. See

Chana or gram, a winter-sown pulse, accounts for nearly half India's total pulses production.