Dal and Oil: India's Kitchen Imports
Where India's Imported Dal Comes From
How countries like Canada, Australia, Mozambique and Myanmar grow pulses for India, and how diplomacy and trade deals affect supply.
India imports pulses from several countries.
Main sources
- Canada and Australia: lentils (masoor), peas and chickpeas.
- Myanmar: tur and urad.
- Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi: tur, under long-term agreements.
- Russia: yellow peas at times.
Long-term agreements
India signed memoranda of understanding with Mozambique (2016) and Malawi for guaranteed tur purchases, encouraging those countries to grow pulses for India.
Diplomacy and trade
- Tensions with Canada in 2023 raised concerns about lentil supplies, though trade continued.
- Import policies like duties and quotas shift supply sources.
Effects on exporting countries
- Pulses became important exports for Canadian prairie farmers and African smallholders.
- Sudden Indian duty changes can hurt their farmers.
Risk management
Diversifying suppliers reduces risk from any one country.
The Mozambique deal
Under an agreement, Mozambique's farmers grow tur knowing India will buy set quantities. India secures supply, and farmers gain a market.
Thinking India's pulse imports come from one country
They come from Canada, Australia, Myanmar, African countries and others.
Key takeaways
- India imports pulses from Canada, Australia, Myanmar and Africa.
- Long-term deals with Mozambique and Malawi secure tur.
- Diplomacy and duties affect supply.
- Diversifying sources reduces risk.
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