Pulse import cost rising amid scanty local production

The import cost of pulses in Bangladesh is on the rise due to increased consumption, inadequate domestic production and higher prices in the international markets. 

A sharp depreciation of the taka against the US dollar in the past one year and a surge in freight costs have also contributed to the higher import prices of one of the most popular kitchen items in the country.

The crop also can't compete with other more profitable agricultural items. Besides, there is a lack of government focus aimed at raising pulse production, experts and market operators say.

In the last fiscal year of 2021-22, Bangladesh spent Tk 6,185 crore to import pulse, an increase of 11 per cent year-on-year, according to Bangladesh Bank.

Pulse production has retained an upward trend over the years, but the output did not rise in line with the growing demand.

Farmers produce 4.25 lakh tonnes of pulses in 2020-21, up from 3.97 lakh tonnes in the previous year, data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics showed.

Every year, Bangladesh needs to import 12 lakh tonnes to 13 lakh tonnes of pulses, including lentils, chickpeas and green gram beans.

"Domestic consumption is increasing. And the import costs have shot up due to the taka's depreciation and high freight costs," said Abul Bashar Chowdhury, chairman of BSM Group, one of the top importers of consumer goods.

The price of pulses in the international market has increased significantly, forcing importers to pay more since a 25 per cent fall in the value of the local currency against the US dollar has made the sourcing of products from the external markets expensive.

Chowdhury says no major step has been taken to give a much-needed boost to pulse cultivation. So, around 5 lakh tonnes of lentils, 6 lakh tonnes of green peas and 2.30 lakh tonnes of chickpeas are imported annually.

He suggested the government take up a plan to cut the pulse import.

Faria Yasmin, business director of ACI Foods and Commodity Brands, said the high price of the domestic pulse has driven consumers to turn to imported ones, pushing up the imports of the item.

Locally grown lentil retails at Tk 130 to Tk 135 per kilogramme while the imported ones are selling at Tk 85 to Tk 90.

The government also imports pulses under its social safety net programmes.

AKM Mahbubul Alam, principal scientific officer of the Pulses Research Sub-Center in Gazipur, thinks mass awareness and specific work plans are needed to increase pulse cultivation.

"There are no specific plans for massive pulse cultivation as we see in the case of mustard."

This year, more than 2.5 lakh hectares of the land saw additional mustard cultivation and it was done without reducing the production of paddy, according to the agriculture ministry.

"Farmers usually don't feel interested in cultivating the pulse grain as they don't get the outputs like high-valued crops within a short time," Alam said, calling for incentivising farmers to boost production.

Debasish Sarker, director-general of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, said thanks to the relentless efforts of pulse scientists, many modern high-yielding varieties have been developed, which deserves praise.

"It will be possible to increase the yield to 2.5 tonnes per hectare by cultivating these varieties and using appropriate technologies. Then more pulses will be produced from less land."

Per capita availability of pulse in Bangladesh is 28 grammes and per capita consumption stands at 17 grammes, much below than a daily minimum  intake of 45 grammes prescribed by  World Health Organisation.

Wais Kabir, a former executive chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, backed the government's focus.

"Due to the crop competition, pulse production is low," he said.

Kabir, however, expresses frustration over the non-availability of a hybrid pulse variety.