Pune | Kolkata: Worsening diplomatic ties between India and Canada, the largest supplier of pulses to the country in the previous financial year, are unlikely to make the commodity more expensive for consumers, said traders and industry executives. Ample imported stocks of yellow peas, increase in domestic production of pulses and availability of yellow peas and lentils from Russia and Australia will help keep prices stable, they said. Although yellow peas are consumed in households only in a few states in eastern India, they are used as a substitute for chana, tur, moong and expensive dals in out-of-home consumption food items. By allowing duty-free imports of yellow peas without quantitative restrictions, the Indian government sought to increase the overall supply of pulses in the country, thus reducing demand pressure on the expensive pulses, which were in short supply, according to the executives.
Meanwhile, officials ruled out any impact on trade. “Countries’ exports and imports are guided by economic rationale unless slapped with sanctions. This is a diplomatic row and we don’t see any impact,” said an official.