Government Weighs Slashing Import Tariffs on Chickpeas and Yellow Peas Ahead of Festive Spike

New Delhi. As the festive period draws near, policymakers are exploring steps to stop pulse prices from climbing further. Among the options tabled is a cut in import duties on chickpeas and yellow peas, a move that could swell local supplies.

India relies heavily on imports to satisfy its pulse consumption, making global shipments a key driver of domestic price dynamics. Traders note that several major pulses have already posted higher rates in recent weeks, spurred by yield anxieties and the looming holiday demand.

Pulse Prices Surge

Currently, imports of chickpeas attract a 10% duty, while yellow peas are levied at a 30% duty. By contrast, imports of tur and urad are duty‑free until 31 March 2027.

Commodity dealers report that prices for chickpeas, moong, peas and tur have risen as much as 10% over the past month. In the last seven days alone, rates have jumped roughly 3‑5%, with festive buying adding further strain.

Rainfall Fuels Crop Concerns

Despite relatively stable overall area under kharif pulses, erratic monsoon patterns have raised alarm bells. By 4 September, pulses had been sown on about 117.13 lakh hectares, a modest increase over the 115.30 lakh hectares recorded at the same time 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 facing heightened uncertainty.

From Sowing to Yield Focus

The market’s attention has shifted from the sheer acreage planted to the expected harvest per hectare. Spotty rainfall and extended dry spells in several regions threaten adequate moisture during critical growth stages.

Suresh Agrawal, president of the Dal Mill Association, warned that insufficient rain in major production zones could dent pulse output this season.

The southwest monsoon is ending with rainfall about 12% below normal, and its uneven spread has compounded agricultural challenges—some districts endured prolonged drought, while others were battered by heavy downpours.

Against this backdrop, the proposed reduction in import duty on chickpeas and yellow peas aims to augment availability and relieve price pressure on consumers during the upcoming festive celebrations.