Decision on imposing import duty on yellow peas soon

03-Mar-2025 05:57 PM

The government is set to make a decision on imposing import duties on yellow peas soon, with a meeting scheduled for March 4, 2025.

The ministerial panel will discuss how much import duty should be imposed or whether the duty-free import period should be extended or modified.

The duty-free import period, which was initially approved in December 2023, ended on February 28, 2025. However, imports can still occur until March 31, 2025, for goods with a Bill of Lading before the deadline.

The trade analysts predict that the government may impose a high import duty on yellow peas to discourage excessive imports, which have driven down prices for pulses in the domestic market.

Prices of pulses like tur, gram, and lentils have fallen below the government’s support price, partly due to the influx of yellow peas.

Additionally, the arrival of a new crop of peas could further lower prices, adding pressure on the market.

The government had extended the duty-free import of tur until March 31, 2026, while the duty-free imports of Desi gram, urad, and lentils are set to end on March 31, 2025.

It is expected that the duty-free import period for urad and lentils might be extended, but the future of Desi gram remains uncertain.

Furthermore, efforts are being made to increase urad imports from countries like Brazil, which means careful deliberation will be necessary.

In 2017, the government had imposed a basic import duty of 60% on peas and 50% on Desi gram. In 2024, more than 50 lakh tonnes of yellow peas were imported, which led to lower prices and increased demand and consumption of yellow peas, subsequently affecting the prices of other pulses