NEW DELHI: From being an importer of pulses one-and-ahalf years back, India is now looking at exporting the lentils as it is sitting on huge stocks, which it needs to dispose of and will procure more to ensure farmers get the minimum assured price announced by the government.

Consumer affairs ministry, which has stocked over 18 million tonnes of pulses, has asked government’s trading company MMTC to explore the possibility of exporting Moong Dal to foreign countries. MMTC has been asked to float tenders. Sources said government agencies have stock of more than 1.5 lakh tonnes of moong dal and these need to be sold off quickly since the shelf life is less in comparison to arhar.

“The agency will find if moong can be exported to countries, which have more NRIs.

Hardly people from any other origin consume moong dal. Only Nafed has already procured fresh tranche of 40,000 moong dal. We are also taking a number of steps to dispose off arhar, which is in huge quantity,” said an official.

The government has identified government agencies including IRCTC, defence forces, central paramilitary forces and Safal to together lift about one lakh tonnes in a year. Moreover, plans for disposal of another 10 lakh tonnes through government agencies, open market sale and providing the lentils at subsidised rates to states have been planned. The government has also allowed export of arhar and urad.

The issue of crashing pulses prices due to bumper supply and also import of cheap yellow peas (matar dal) came up before a group of ministers, which met on Wednesday evening. “There was almost an unanimity among all those present in the meeting that import duty on yellow peas should be increased substantially. A decision is likely soon,” said an official.

The group also suggested agencies allow export of masur and other pulses so that farmers get a good price.