Second, the local crop of pulses too seems to be better than last year. Fresh arrivals of pulses in the market will begin from next month. Also, there is adequate stock of pulses in the country. Third, leading traders say, with international prices ruling at a higher level, currently there is no price parity for pulses imports. Annually, the country imports around five to six lakh tonnes of pulses to meet the country's protein requirements. Despite good monsoon and good crop of pulses, there remains a shortfall of around2-3 million tonnes.

Meanwhile, the pulses importers' body, represented by around 100 members of the All India Pulses Importers' Association, is sending a 10-member team to Canada from August 8-15. The team, while negotiating buying contracts, will also familiarise itself with Canadian crops, particularly chick peas and red lentils, pulse processing, loading systems and port facilities.

Canada is the largest supplier of dried green peas to India and overall Canadian exports of peas and pulses to India almost doubled to 207,500 tonnes in 1998 from 1997.

During the first quarter of 1999, Canada exported around 60,000 tonnes of pulses, according to a note from the Canadian High Commission. It may be recalled that members of Pulse Canada, one of the leading pulses organisation in Canada working for the bean, pea, chickpea and lentil producers had earlier this year visited India and successfully presented technical seminars and visited wholesale grain markets and splitting plants in Delhi and Mumbai.

Thepulses importers' body does seem to be divided on how the pulses trade will be affected with the re-entry of the government into the import trade. Said one of the leading members of the importers' association: ``The pulses trade (especially import side) currently is dull, primarily because of the government's decision to import pulses through the STC. Majority of pulses importers are silent these days and are waiting to see what impact this will have on our trade.''

Contradicting this viewpoint, another member said, the re-entry of government will hardly have any impact on import of pulses, given the size of the country and the resultant demand for proteins. Our own crop of pulses will be good this year, following good monsoon not to mention other alternative sources for proteins, not just pulses.''

The importers are sure that the government, despite STC, will not be able distribute the imported consignment of urad, moong and toor (at higher than the local prices) before elections.

``The government'simports are at higher prices,'' said a leading importer. ``We are sure that the government will not be able to meet the elections deadline,'' he added. Said another leading importer, ``currently there are huge stocks of green and yellow peas in the country which has depressed prices in the local markets.

Unless these stocks are consumed and the fate of fresh crops are known, no fresh commitments are likely to materialise over the next couple of months.''