Pulse Prices Ease on Cheaper Imports
27-Aug-2025 04:13 PM
Mumbai. Due to the continued heavy imports of cheap goods from abroad and especially Myanmar, Mozambique, Tanzania and Canada etc.
and the possibility of the arrival of new domestic procurement crop in the next few weeks, the market price of major pulses - tuvar, urad, lentil and gram etc. has softened and in some markets it has come down even below the minimum support price.
According to trade analysts, the wholesale market price of urad and gram is currently running around their respective minimum support price (MSP), while the price of tuvar and lentil imported from abroad has come down 10-20 percent below the MSP. Although moong is not being imported from outside the country, its price is still running below the MSP.
According to trade analysts, due to weak market price, pulse producers may be discouraged from cultivating gram and lentil in the upcoming Rabi season.
If the market price remains below the MSP, the enthusiasm and attraction of farmers in sowing pulses will decrease and then the dependence on the import of pulses from abroad will increase next year.
The industry trade sector has urged the government to impose/increase customs duty on yellow peas and other varieties of pulses to control their import.
There is an import duty of 10-10 percent on gram and lentils, while the import of tur, yellow peas and urad has been made duty free till March 31, 2026.
Critics say that customs duty should be imposed on pulses in such a way that its import cost remains higher than the MSP, only then farmers can get proper incentive to increase production.
The secretary of a leading trade organization - India Pulses and Grains Association says that it is necessary to control the import of pulses to increase domestic production.
For this, not only should the customs duty be increased but farmers should also be given the necessary cooperation, support and encouragement.
During the financial year 2024-25, the import of pulses in India jumped to a new record level of over 70 lakh tonnes. 15-18 percent of the annual consumption of pulses in the country is being imported from abroad.