★ Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that India’s agricultural import policy must strike a balance between the interests of farmers and consumers. The government aims to ensure that essential commodities such as pulses and oilseeds do not become so expensive that the common consumer cannot afford them. However, when domestic production falls, cheaper imports increase, which pushes market prices down further and directly impacts farmers’ incomes.

★ To curb the fall in pulse prices, the government recently imposed a 30% import duty on yellow peas. The Centre has also been committed since last year to 100% procurement of crops such as tur, urad, masoor, soybean, groundnut, and mustard under price support, if required.

★ Chouhan urged states to introduce price-deficit payment schemes similar to Madhya Pradesh’s Bhavantar model, where the government compensates farmers by directly paying the difference between the lower market price and the minimum support price (MSP).