New Delhi: The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) has invited bids for importing 14,000 tonnes of pulses next month to augment domestic supply and in turn check their prices.

The bids for importing ‘dun peas’, ‘desi gram’, ‘tur whole’ and ‘red lentils whole’ would be closed on 29 November and a decision on the tender taken by 5 December 5, NAFED said in a statement here.

The imported pulses should be from 2007 season. Dun peas and desi gram should be offered in the lots of 5,000 tonnes each or their multiples, while tur whole and red lentils whole should be offered in the lots of 2,000 tonnes each or their multiples, it added.

Dun peas and desi gram should be, preferably, of Australian origin. Tur, especially lemon and shwebo variety should be from Myanmar and red lentils whole could be either from Australia or Canada, it said.

It sought separate quotes for commodities to be delivered in the west coast (Mumbai and Kandla) and the east coast (Chennai, Tuticorin and Kolkata). The rates of tur lemon and shwebo variety should be quoted separately, NAFED specified.

The shipment of dun peas, desi gram and red lentils whole is expected next month, while that of tur whole in January 2008, it said.

The government has targeted to import 15 lakh tonnes of pulses through state agencies like STC, MMTC and PEC and NAFED. It is also extending 15% subsidy for importing pulses.

Out of the total contract of 11.89 lakh tonnes made by these agencies, 7.21 lakh tonnes have arrived up to 13 November.