Held up for months, import of tur dal from Mozambique resumes after MEA’s intervention

India is the world’s largest producer of pulses, but it is still dependent on imports to meet its domestic demand. The country imports about a dozen types of pulses from different countries, in which Mozambique is its main source for Tur/Pigeon pea imports.

During 2023-24, India imported 7.71 lakh tons of Tur/Pigeon pea, of which one-third (2.64 lakh tons) came from Mozambique. The figure was even higher in 2022-23 when half (4.6 lakh tons) of India’s total Tur/Pigeon pea imports (8.94 lakh tons) were from Mozambique. Malawi, the fourth largest Tur/Pigeon peas supplier to India, shipped a quantity of 52,773 tons during the last financial year, recording a drop of 12 per cent as compared to 60,463 tons in the previous year.

The sources attributed this drop in imports from these two countries during the last year to a “series of hurdles” in Mozambique which had impeded the smooth flow of trade.

However, the issue did not resolve fully as traders reported obstructions by an anti-India group in shipment of pulses from Nacala port.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Deepak Pareek, Founding Convener, Global Grains and Pulses Council, sought the government’s intervention in the matter.

“The authorities of Nampula Province in Mozambique, which oversee the Port of Nacala, are obstructing the shipment of agricultural commodities to India… Unfortunately, a local group with a background in anti-India activities has been colluding with these authorities to impede the flow of goods,” wrote Pareek.

“The issue began last year when Indian importers were asked to pay a ransom for shipping pigeon peas, and cargo bound for India was illegally detained. This distressing scenario is repeating itself, with cargo from both Mozambique and Malawi being restricted, and a private group demanding USD 70-100 to release the shipments. This situation not only compromises the interests of the Indian trading community but also led to food inflation in pulses last year, with a potential for recurrence this year,” he wrote.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Pareek said, “Money is still being paid… Only those containers are shipped where money is paid.”

There is a possibility that the material in those containers may be from the previous crop as the harvesting of the new crop has just begun, he added.

Mozambique had entered into an MoU with India to supply 2 lakh tons of Tur/Pigeon peas till 2025-26.

As per the pact, India provides assured market access to Mozambique. A similar MoU has been signed with Malawi for supply of 0.50 lakh tons of Tur/Pigeon Pea to India annually.

India imports about a dozen pulses from different countries. During 2023-24, India’s pulses imports rose to a record high of 47.38 lakh tons, almost double to the level of 24.96 lakh tons in 2022-23.