Confronted with an acute shortage of pulse – a staple source of protein in India with its teeming population of vegetarians, the Modi govt. has gone into overdrive grappling with the challenge. One of the ways it seems to rely on is promoting cooperative farming model in Africa to procure pulses from the continent.
Indian officials say India will help local farmers with seeds and other inputs and buy their produce at a remunerative price.
A report by Hindustan Times says the country faces a shortage of 7.6 million tonnes of pulses and the govt. is taking measures to import pulses.
Sources day India will negotiate a govt. to govt. deal with Mozambique to import pulses during Prime Minister Modi’s current 4 nation African tour.
A govt source is quoted claiming India is set to explore the idea of cooperative farming for pulses in some African countries including Mozambique.