News Capsule: CACP Recommends Higher Import Tariffs on Pulses, Complete Ban on Yellow Peas
03-Oct-2025 10:04 AM
CACP Recommends Higher Import Tariffs on Pulses, Complete Ban on Yellow Peas
★ The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), which recommends the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, has urged the government to tighten controls on pulse imports.
★ In its latest report, the commission has suggested raising import duties on pulses such as gram (chana) and lentils (masoor) and imposing a complete ban on the import of yellow peas.
★ This recommendation has been made in its recent report “Price Policy for Rabi Crops: Marketing Season 2026-27.” The report states that frequent government approvals for duty-free imports of pulses have led to a fall in domestic prices, depriving farmers of remunerative returns.
★ It further highlights the policy contradiction — while the government aims to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses, the inflow of cheap imports continues to hurt domestic production.
★ Currently, duty-free imports of yellow peas, tur, and urad are allowed until March 31, 2026, whereas gram and lentils attract a 10% import duty valid until the end of FY 2025-26.
★ Since December 2023, more than 3.5 million tonnes of yellow peas have been imported into the country.
★ Between 2020-21 and 2024-25, India’s import dependency in pulses has risen sharply from 9% to 23.1%.
★ Several national institutions and government agencies have repeatedly urged the Centre to reform and stabilise pulse import policies to safeguard domestic farmers and promote long-term self-sufficiency.