Pulses imports to India, the world’s biggest buyer, may fall to their lowest in almost two decades after the Centre raised import taxes and restricted overseas purchases to bolster prices, impacting the plans of its global suppliers.The reduction in imports illustrates the government’s steps to raise the prices of pulses, like peas and lentils, to reduce payouts to farmers under its food subsidy scheme. Farmers in Canada, Australia and Russia that rely on Indian demand will likely intensify their cutbacks in pulses cultivation and continue to seek other markets in response.India’s pulses imports could slide almost 80% to 1.2 million tonnes in the current fiscal, the lowest since 2000-01, Bimal Kothari, vice-chairman, Indian Pulses and Grains Association, told Reuters.