Early imports of Food products expected due to monsoon blues

The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD’s) revision, which had forecast “below normal” monsoon in April, would potentially toughen challenges for the Narendra Modi government, already battling a farm crisis triggered by unseasonal rains in March-April this year

Analysts, however, said India mostly waits until July or August for importing food items and enhancing supplies. Lowering import duties on food items such as pulses and oil seeds will help prepare for supplies when crops fail because of poor rains. Similarly, many experts questioned why India cannot place the import orders for pulses and oilseeds in June itself, if the IMD has warned of a higher probability of weak summer rains, instead of waiting until July.