THE import of pulses which registered a steady decline in the first half of 2013-14 was up again in the month of December, giving rise to speculation of a poor Rabi crop.

During July-December 2013, the imports fell by 26.14pc cent to $133.45 million against $180.68 million during the same period in the previous year. In terms of volume, the drop was 19 per cent at 200,232 metric tonnes as compared to 253,447 metric tonnes a year ago. In December, the situation changed.

There are reports of the crop output having slid to 0.5 million tonnes from the expected figure of 0.75 million tonnes and that is why one sees a rise of 29.34 per cent in December’s imports to $24.876 million as compared to $19.233 million in December 2012. But the Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association believes that the gram production may exceed one million tonnes this year and that was the reason the wholesale prices of gram have fallen in the market from over Rs100 to Rs50.

During 2012-13, the production and imports scenario was highly encouraging. The production of gram, the largest Rabi pulse crop, stood at 673,000 tonnes against 284,000 tonnes in the previous year, showing an increase of 137 per cent due to increase in area of cultivation and favourable weather conditions. At the same time, total imports in 2012-13 dropped to 473,049 tonnes ($327 million) as compared to 672,495 million ($434 million) in 2011-2012. The official figures clearly show that import of pulses swelled in 2011-2012 due to low production of gram in that period. However, the devaluation of rupee against dollar especially from July 2013 also discouraged traders, resulting in less imports.

But these are passing gains when viewed in long-term perspective. Although Pakistan is a major producer of pulses, the problem is that its demand has been outstripping domestic supply, making it a regular importer of pulses. The demand is calculated to be around 1.5 million tonnes while the production has never crossed one million tonnes and normally remains between five and seven lakh tonnes.

Pulses have been a staple in the Pakistani diet. They are often referred to as the ‘common man’s meat’ and an important source of protein for the poor. Pulses are grown both in the Kharif and Rabi seasons, but mostly in Rabi because winter season is more suitable. It is also cultivated in dry areas under non-irrigated conditions where it depends largely on monsoon rains for growth. A USDA report sees no significant breakthrough in domestic production of pulses in the near term due to the importance of competing crops such as wheat, rice, and cotton.

Major pulses grown in Pakistan include desi chickpeas (gram), lentils (masoor), mung beans, black matpe (mash beans), and dry peas whole (mattar). Other pulses are kabuli chickpeas, and kidney beans etc. The Punjab region accounts for about 84 per cent of Pakistan’s total pulse production, followed by Sindh eight per cent, Balochistan five per cent, and KPK three per cent. Consumption of pulses particularly gram is relatively high during the summer,Ramazan, Eid, Moharram, and other local festive occasions. The domestic consumption of gram is about 0.60 million tonnes annually. Various varieties of pulses are consumed according to regional preferences. Black Matpe (mash), for example, is consumed all over the country. Lentils are consumed primarily in northern and eastern regions. Red kidney beans are mostly consumed in the northern areas. Green peas are a minor pulse which is consumed in most parts of the country due to their low price and are served as snacks and food. Imported peas serve as a substitute for desi chickpeas. About 85 per cent of pulses are sold through commercial marketing channels while the balance is kept by farmers for their household consumption and for planting as seed.

The production of pulses has remained stagnant for several years in a row and total output of all the four major varieties — moong, masoor, mash and gram — ranges between 500,000 and 700,000 tons. Since most pulses are grown in Barani areas where agriculture depends on rainwater, farmers keep reducing the area under cultivation to make way for other major crops like wheat, rice and sugarcane which are more profitable.

The government imposed a ban on the export of pulses in 2006 to keep a check on their prices in the domestic market but it still allowed exports in certain cases. However, the government levies surcharges on certain items to protect the domestic cconsumers.

Lack of use of appropriate technology and farm implements like threshing machinery also contributes to low productivity. Crop losses at the time of harvesting and during threshing sometimes are significant. There is also an absence of a comprehensive policy for raising local production of pulses.