India's Pulse Sector: Results of Field Research

Overview

India has the world's largest pulse sector, but despite liberal import policies, imports have remained a small share of supplies and per capita consumption has declined. This report describes the market for crops such as chickpeas, pigeon peas, black matpe, mung beans, lentils, and dry peas in that country, paying particular attention to production and consumption patterns, marketing channels, and imports. Moreover, the United States' competitive position as a supplier to that market is described. Factors that have hindered U.S. pulse exports from making significant inroads in the Indian market include quality-induced price premiums, high bagging, containerization, and shipping costs, and small supplies relative to other pulse-exporting countries.