Import Duty on Yellow Peas to Boost Pulses Market
30-Oct-2025 11:08 AM
New Delhi. As expected, the government announced the imposition of import duty on yellow peas immediately after the end of the festive season. It is understood that the government was facing widespread pressure to do so.
Industry, trade, and farmers' organizations, as well as the NITI Aayog, the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, and the Agriculture Minister, were in favor of imposing an import duty on yellow peas. The government was hesitant to make any decision due to the festive season.
According to a notification issued by the Revenue Department of the Union Finance Ministry in the India Gazette, a standard customs duty of 10 percent and an AIDC duty of 20 percent have been imposed on yellow peas, effective November 1, 2025.
This means that import contracts for yellow peas entered into on or after November 1 will be subject to the duty, while bills of lading executed before that date, i.e., until October 31, 2025, will not be subject to any customs duty. It is worth noting that duty-free import of yellow peas was previously approved until March 31, 2026.
The price of yellow peas has fallen significantly in the international market, and due to the exemption from customs duty in India, there was a possibility of large, cheap imports from abroad.
Last year, there was also a significant import, which led to a decline in the prices of various pulses in the domestic market.
This trend continues, and Indian farmers are facing a tough struggle to obtain profitable prices for their produce. Furthermore, if the duty-free import of yellow peas continues, it could adversely affect the sowing of pulse crops during the Rabi season.
Although last year, along with pigeon pea, black gram, and desi gram, lentils were also heavily imported, pushing total pulse imports to an all-time high of 7.34 million tons, yellow peas were primarily responsible for the softening of prices.
Some improvement in the domestic market price of pulses is expected in the coming time, while farmers may also receive significant incentives for sowing chickpeas, lentils, and peas. Yellow peas are primarily imported from Canada and Russia.