Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 9: The Indian government has extended duty-free imports of yellow peas by three months, until May 31, while imposing a 10% import duty on lentils (masur) with immediate effect, according to an official notification. The move aims to boost domestic availability and stabilize prices of essential pulses.
To regulate lentil imports, the government has introduced a 5% basic customs duty along with a 5% Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC), effective from Saturday. This policy shift is part of the government’s ongoing strategy to balance inflation control with domestic production incentives.
The duty-free import of yellow peas, initially permitted in December 2023, was introduced as a response to falling domestic production of chana (gram dal). The relaxation, extended periodically, was set to expire in February but has now been pushed to the end of May.
In 2024, India’s yellow pea imports accounted for 30 lakh tonnes out of the 67 lakh tonnes of total pulses imported. Meanwhile, the government has been actively procuring pulses at Minimum Support Prices (MSP) under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) Scheme, extended through the 15th Finance Commission cycle until 2025-26.
The government remains committed to purchasing 100% of Tur (Arhar) produced by farmers through central nodal agencies like NAFED and NCCF. To further reduce import dependence and encourage domestic pulse production, the Centre has allowed the procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masur under the Price Support Scheme (PSS), up to 100% of a state’s production for the 2024-25 procurement year.
Continuing this commitment, the Budget 2025 announced that Tur, Urad, and Masur procurement at 100% of state production will be extended for another four years to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently confirmed that the Centre has approved Tur procurement under the Price Support Scheme for Kharif 2024-25 in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh, with a total allocation of 13.22 lakh metric tonnes (LMT).