Demand for at least 30 percent import duty on pulses

26-Nov-2025 10:43 AM

Kanpur. The indigenous industry and trade sector has urged the central government to withdraw the policy of duty-free import of pulses and impose a customs duty of at least 30 percent on pulses to ensure remunerative prices for domestic pulse producers and encourage them to increase production and sowing.

In a memorandum sent to the Prime Minister, traders from the Bundelkhand region, bordering Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, led by the National President and General Secretary of the Indian Agricultural Products Industry Trade Delegation, stated that the massive import of cheap pulses from abroad has significantly reduced domestic market prices,

forcing Indian farmers to struggle to obtain a fair price for their produce. According to traders, commission agents, and pulse millers of the Naulakha Grain Market, a campaign will be launched in various markets to support this demand at the national level and efforts will be made to pressure the government to increase the import duty on pulses.

It is noteworthy that imports of tur (tur) and urad (black gram) have been made duty-free until March 31, 2026, while a nominal customs duty of 10 percent each is applicable on lentils and desi gram. Recently, a 30 percent import duty was imposed on yellow peas, and the import of mung beans has been banned since 2022.

Entrepreneurs and traders say that Indian pulse producers are being discouraged by weak domestic market prices, and therefore, pulse sowing area is not increasing in states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,

Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. The government has launched a mission to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses, but has maintained a liberal import policy.