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Pulses farmers & traders urge Govt to stop duty-free import of yellow peas
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Tuesday, 30 September, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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Pulses farmers and pulses traders have urged the Union Government to stop duty- free import of yellow peas (pili matar) used as lentil substitute.
The farmers have even approached the apex court in the matter citing dire circumstances faced by them due to the government's lack of procurement of locally grown pulses.
Shankar Thakkar, national secretary of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), informed that the duty-free import of yellow peas, used as a lentil substitute, has led to a significant drop in the prices of other pulses, resulting in prices of various pulses falling 20 to 45% below the MSP.
Similarly pulses organisations have appealed to the government to stop the duty-free import of yellow peas and impose a duty of up to 50% to provide relief to pulses farmers and encourage them to cultivate pulses next year.
The pulses organisation warned that if the situation remains unchanged, India's pulses harvest will decline even further next year, impacting the dream of a self-reliant India.
Meanwhile, a delegation of traders also met with Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan regarding this issue, but the government has not given any assurance.
It is learnt that the Kisan Mahapanchayat has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court and the latter has sought a response from the Central Government on the demand of ban on the import of yellow peas.
The petition states that yellow peas are considered a substitute for pulses, and their import is harming the livelihoods of Indian farmers, especially those who grow pulses.
Thakkar further said that the government should have taken cognisance of this serious issue before the Kisan Mahapanchayat approached the court.
"It's not too late; the government should immediately take a decision on this matter, and stop the duty-free import of yellow peas and impose import duties so that India becomes self-reliant in the coming years," said Thakkar.
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