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Informist, Tuesday, May 27, 2025

MUMBAI – The Delhi Grain Merchants Association has urged the government to impose a minimum import price on all pulses that are 5-10% above the minimum support price due to rising concern over the high imports of pulses at cheaper rates. Cheaper imports have made it difficult for Indian farmers to sell their crop at the minimum support levels, leading to distress sales, the association said.

The association has also urged the government to enforce quantitative restrictions on pulses imports to prevent market saturation and to protect the interests of domestic producers.

Currently, major pulses chana, tur, urad, and masur are imported at cost lower than the minimum support price in India, the association said. While the minimum support price of tur is INR 7,500 per 100 kg, the landing cost of African tur is INR 5,500 per 100 kg, while that of tur from Myanmar is INR 6,500 per 100 kg. African countries and Myanmar are some of the biggest exporters of tur to India.

Urad imports from Myanmar, the largest exporter of urad among all sources, currently land in India at INR 6,700 per 100 kg, while the minimum support price of the legume is INR 6,700 per 100 kg. Myanmar-origin urad is typically of better quality than domestic urad, making it more attractive.

Canadian and Australian imports of masur are priced at INR 5,900 per 100 kg, against the minimum support price of INR 6,700 per 100 kg. Chana imports from Australia and Tanzania are also priced much below the minimum support price of INR 5,650 per 100 kg, the association said. The import of yellow peas have already risen sharply after the 50% duty was removed in December 2023.

The "dumping" of cheaper pulses into India is defeating the purpose of minimum support levels, which are supposed to ensure fair remuneration to farmers, the association said. "Moreover, the government is not in a position to procure the entire crop, leaving both farmers and the trade community at a grave disadvantage," it said. 

The suggested policy interventions will not only restore market stability, but also reduce the pressure on the government for procurement, and support the national objective of "self-reliance" in pulses, the association said. Unless such measures are taken, farmers are likely to drift away from pulses, leading to domestic shortages and threatening both food security and price stability in the country, it said.  End

Reported by Shreya Shetty

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

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