New Delhi. With the festive season looming, the administration is weighing steps to curb the upward drift in pulse prices. Among the options tabled is a cut in import duties on chickpeas and yellow peas, a move that could swell domestic availability.
India relies heavily on imported pulses to meet demand, making overseas shipments a key driver of local price dynamics. Traders report that several major pulses have edged higher in recent weeks as concerns mount over harvests and festive buying.
Pulse Prices Keep Climbing
At present, chickpea imports bear a 10 % duty, while yellow peas are taxed at 30 %. By contrast, imports of tur and urad are duty‑free until 31 March 2027.
Commodity dealers say that over the last month, prices of chickpeas, moong, peas and tur have risen by as much as 10 %. In the past seven days, the market has seen an additional 3 %–5 % increase, fuelled by stronger demand ahead of the celebrations.
Rainfall Sparks Yield Fears
Although the total area under kharif pulses has held steady despite an uneven monsoon, the situation on the ground is worrisome. By 4 September, farmers had sown pulses on about 117.13 lakh hectares, a modest rise over the 115.30 lakh hectares recorded at the same point last year.
However, moong cultivation slipped to 33.19 lakh hectares from 34.23 lakh hectares a year earlier, and growers in key states such as Maharashtra and Karnataka are voicing concerns about crop health.
From Area to Yield: The Market’s New Focus
Market attention has shifted from the sheer acreage under cultivation to the likely yields. Spotty rainfall and prolonged dry spells in several regions have raised doubts about moisture availability during critical growth stages.
Suresh Agrawal, president of the Dal Mill Association, warned that deficient rains in major pulse‑producing zones could dent this year’s output.
The southwest monsoon is ending with rainfall roughly 12 % below normal, and its erratic distribution has compounded agricultural challenges—some zones endured drought‑like conditions, while others were drenched.
Against this backdrop, the proposed duty reduction on chickpeas and yellow peas is intended to ease supply constraints and shield consumers from price spikes during the upcoming festive period.
