Trading Signals in Overseas Markets for Indian Legumes during WTO Regime: Foreign Trade Research and Policies

India is the largest consumer, producer and importer of pulses such as 27% of global consumption,
25% of global production and 14% imports of pulses in the world. The study period is from 1990-91 to
2017-18. The selected legumes were beans, chickpea, lentils and peas. APEDA, FAO STAT, CMIE,
DGCIS and Agricultural Statistics at a glance 2018 were the secondary data sources. The current
study analysed the growth rate, elasticity and instability of export quantity, prices of selected legumes
and their export destinations in the Indian and global market. The study found that Indian peas have
more demand in overseas market. Export price of chickpea was more than other legumes in India.
The export prices of Indian legumes were stable. India should export their beans to Brazil, China and
Australia for making profits in the international market as the stability of prices associated with the
highest growth rate. India exported more quantity of chickpea to Canada followed by Argentina and
USA. Export price of chickpea was more in Mexico, Australia and Argentina. Canada, Mexico,
Ethiopia and UAE were stable in export quantity of chickpea. India should expand lentils exports by
making appropriate strategies in global markets because some of the exporting countries realized
instability of export prices. The export price of beans, chickpea and peas were stable in all countries.
Indian legumes should export to the highly demanded countries such as Argentina, Canada and USA
in an overseas market. The major destinations are Brazil, Japan and UK for beans; Pakistan,
Bangladesh and Spain for chickpea; Turkey, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for lentils; and China,
Belgium and Bangladesh for peas. The research assists in planning price policies and schemes of
pulse for enhancing exports and foreign earnings for legume crops across the globe. India should
adopt multi strategies to enhance the production and marketing of legumes. India should seek for new
developed markets for the legume crops.