18 Sept 2025
The Agri Farmer and Trade Association (AFTA) has urged the government to restrict cheaper imports of pulses, warning that unchecked inflows are depressing domestic prices and discouraging farmers from expanding acreage.
Association President Sunil Kumar Baldeva said ports are currently “flooded with consignments of yellow peas from Russia and Canada,” leading to oversupply in the domestic market. “We have requested the government to stop cheap imports so that prices remain stable and farmers remain motivated to increase acreage. This will help India achieve Atma Nirbharta (self-reliance) in pulses within the next two to three years,” Baldeva said.
India, despite being the world’s largest producer of pulses, remains heavily dependent on imports to meet domestic demand. The government’s decision to allow duty-free imports of pigeon peas (tur), yellow peas, and black matpe (urad) until March 2026 has triggered concern among growers, who fear sustained pressure on prices.
Trade data shows India imported a record 6.63 million tonnes of pulses in FY25, nearly double the previous year. Yellow peas alone accounted for 2.9 million tonnes (45%), despite the fact that India had not imported any yellow peas until 2023. Analysts attribute the surge to the government’s duty-free policy, which “opened the floodgates” for exporters from Canada, Russia, and African nations.
As a result, domestic prices have fallen below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Chana (chickpea) prices dropped to ₹6,200 per quintal in August 2025, compared to ₹8,000 a year earlier. Tur prices slipped to ₹6,700 per quintal from ₹11,000, while yellow peas declined to ₹3,250 per quintal from ₹4,100.
The sharp decline has already impacted sowing. Despite a normal monsoon, acreage under tur fell 8% to 34.90 lakh hectares by end-July, compared to 37.99 lakh hectares last year. The normal area under tur is about 45 lakh hectares.
Baldeva noted that while AFTA had previously advocated lower import duties when domestic supply was tight, the current scenario required stricter import controls to protect farmer interests and ensure long-term self-sufficiency.