To diversify import dependence on a few countries, India is aiming to step up sourcing of pulses and edible oils from Brazil. The move is expected to bridge the shortfall in domestic supplies.
According to Suresh K Reddy, ambassador of India to Brazil, enhancing the sourcing of edible oils and pulses from the South American country would introduce “competition and better pricing” helping improve domestic supplies.
Currently, India imports about 58% and 15% of the country’s consumption of cooking oils and pulses respectively. Imports of these commodities are mostly from Indonesia, Malaysia, Canada, Australia, Ukraine, Mayanmar, Mozambique and Malawi.
“We are importing a large quantity of urad (black gram) from Brazil. It has a capacity to produce varieties of pulses for us. Imagine if we introduce big pulses producers into the market, it would bring in competition,” Reddy told FE here. India imports tur, urad, masoor and chana varieties of pulses while palm, soybean and sunflower constitute import basket for the cooking oils.
With rising imports from India, Brazil’s output of urad has increased from only 6,000 tonne in 2023 to 75,000 tonne this year. According to Brazilian officials, out of the total production of urad, 60,000 tonne has been exported to India so far this year. Brazil is aiming to double the production of urad next year.
Reddy said Brazil has a pulses variety — Carioca beans — similar to Rajma which has rich protein and is cheap. “We should start looking at importing carioca beans to India” adding protein content dal into the market which is expected to meet protein deficiency,”.
India is also aiming to import sunflower oil from South American country after there is an increase in import of soybean oils in last few years
“We are working with Indian officials to finalise phytosanitary agreement to work supplying varieties of pulses to Indian market and we can be a reliable supplier of pulses and edible oils to India,” Luis Rua, secretary for trade and international relations, ministry of agriculture and livestock, Brazil, told FE.
Between late 19th and early 20th centuries, Brazil imported Indian zebu breeds such a Gir, Ongole, red sindhy and Kankrej. Brazilian breeders crossbred the Indian Gir with Holstein cattle to create the Girolando breed, combining the Gir’s adaptability to tropical climate with the Holstein’s high milk production.
“This breed has become a foundation of Brazil’s dairy industry, accounting for 80% of the country’s milk production with an average yield of 30 – 40 litres per day against India’s average of 15 to 16 litres,” according to an official note.
“We would like the Brazilian Zebu Breeders Association (ABCZ), which contributed to the regularization and dissemination of the Gir breed in Brazil to work with Indian companies improving the genetics of cattle,” Rua said.
While India is the biggest milk producer in the world, productivity remains low because of small herd size and lack of genetic improvement in the last decade.
