KARACHI, June 14: Except for surplus production in desi chic peas and green mung beans this year, the country is facing a phenomenal drop in production of lentils, black matpe, kabuli chic peas, red kidney beans and yellow peas.
A chart showing consumption, production and import/export of various pulses, prepared by Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Group (KWGG), reveals that because of timely and sufficient rains one million tons bumper crop of desi chic peas is expected against average local consumption of 650,000 tons. But this year, the local consumption is estimated at 750,000 tons because of low price. Even then the country will have a surplus of 250,000 tons for export to Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Last year production stood at 548,000 tons. An estimated 20,000-25,000 tons of desi chic peas have already been exported.
The consumption of green mung beans is 130,000 tons a year. Almost five years ago, green mung beans used to be imported from China, Australia and Myanmar because of the crop being lesser than consumption. But the situation has changed and Pakistan is now exporting little quantity of green mung bean ranging between 5,000-15,000 tons every year. This year too, production is expected at 136,500 tons leaving an export surplus of 6,500 tons.
Lentil consumption in Pakistan is estimated at 120,000 tons a year but its production now varies from 25,000-40,000 tons. Traders will import 75,000-95,000 tons this year from Canada, Australia, India and Turkey.
The consumption of black matpe is about 90,000 tons and its production varies from 25,000-40,000 tons and the rest is imported from Myanmar and little quantity from Thailand. Pakistan will import about 45,000-60,000 tons this season.
Kabuli chic peas production is about 25,000-30,000 tons per annum while its consumption is about 75,000 tons and the country will have to import 35,000-45,000 tons to meet the consumption.
The consumption of red kidney beans is 50,000 tons and only a little quantity of about 5,000-10,000 tons is being grown in Pakistan and about 40,000-50,000 will be imported mostly from China this year.
Yellow peas consumption is about 120,000 tons and it is now grown in Pakistan therefore the commodity is totally imported from Canada and Australia.
Advisor KWGG, Anis Majeed presented the overall situation of pulses in Pakistan at CCIL/IPTIC International Pulse Trade and Industry Confederation Meeting held in Egypt in the first week of this month while representing Pakistan.
Major pulses processing factories are located in different cities like Karachi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Multan and Kohat, etc. About 85 per cent of total imports of pulses are in whole grains which are processed in local factories.
There is a worldwide market concept that better supplies result in decline of prices of various items but in case of wheat, sugar and pulses in Pakistan, this has not been implemented since speculative hoarding of grains including pulses has been evident from the last few years.
State of Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has suggested the government to initiate anti-hoarding campaign and make arrangement for direct sale (through utility stores or stall in weekly bazaars etc) of the commodity that may discourage hoarding.
