Trade Talk with G. Chandrashekhar/
Rabi Recap and Kharif Sowing Update

0:36 Let’s begin by recapping the rabi harvest. The third advance estimate came out about a month ago and pegged pulse production at 19.5 million MT, including nearly 14 million MT of chickpeas. Now last time we spoke, you felt the official numbers were overstated. Could you give us your sense of the pulse production volumes this rabi season?

6:03 Next, let’s turn to the sowing of the kharif crop. News reports indicate the sowing pace for pulses is up 25% on the year. I realize it is early, but what are your preliminary expectations for the seeding of pulse crops this kharif season?

8:30 Could you run through the kharif crop production targets for the various pulses and tell us how realistic you think they are?

10:30 Last week, the government raised MSPs for several crops, with pulse crops seeing some of the biggest increases. Will this encourage greater sowing of pulses?

13:15 I understand the southwest monsoon is starting to pick up momentum after a slow start. What can you tell us about its progress so far and how it is expected to unfold over the coming months?

15:15 Last time we spoke, we discussed how the government’s fertilizer subsidy program may not be able to spare Indian growers from higher input costs. If this should come to pass, you mentioned growers may compromise on their agronomic practices. I wonder if you are seeing any signs of this?

16:55 From March to May, NAFED and Food Corporation of India purchased nearly 2.3 million MT of chickpeas. Might this indicate the government is preparing to offer chickpeas through its public food distribution system?

19:20 Lastly, Chandra, I understand you recently spoke before the International Grains Council and provided short- and medium-term outlooks for pulses in India. Can you share some of that information with us?