Government Mulls Slashing Import Duties on Chickpeas and Yellow Peas Ahead of Festive Rush

New Delhi. As the festive calendar draws near, officials are weighing steps to curb a fresh surge in pulse prices. Among the options tabled is a reduction of import levies on chickpeas and yellow peas, a move that could swell local inventories ahead of the holiday buying spree.

India relies heavily on overseas shipments to satisfy its pulse appetite, making global supply dynamics a key driver of domestic rates. Traders report that several major pulses have already nudged higher in recent weeks, fuelled by mounting concerns over crop outcomes and festive demand.

Pulse Prices Edge Higher

At present, imported chickpeas attract a 10 % duty, while yellow peas are subject to a 30 % duty. By contrast, imports of tur and urad are duty‑free until 31 March 2027.

Commodity dealers say that over the past month, prices for chickpeas, moong, peas and tur have risen by as much as 10 %. In the last seven days alone, price tags have jumped another 3 %–5 %, with the approaching festive season adding extra pressure on the market.

Rainfall Patterns Stir Crop‑Yield Fears

Despite a relatively stable area under kharif pulses, the monsoon has been patchy. By 4 September, sowing covered about 1.1713 million hectares, a modest rise over the 1.1530 million hectares recorded at the same point last year.

However, moong cultivation slipped to 331,900 hectares from 342,300 hectares a year earlier, and growers in key states such as Maharashtra and Karnataka are voicing apprehensions about crop health.

From Acreage to Yield: The New Concern

The market’s focus has shifted from the sheer expanse of land under pulse crops to the likely harvest per hectare. Spotty rains and prolonged dry spells in certain zones have sparked worries about moisture availability during pivotal growth stages.

Suresh Agrawal, president of the Dal Mill Association, warned that insufficient rainfall in principal producing regions could dent pulse output this season.

The southwest monsoon is wrapping up with overall precipitation roughly 12 % below normal. Its uneven spread has produced a mixed bag: some districts endured extended drought, while others were drenched by heavy showers.

Against this backdrop, the contemplated duty cuts on chickpeas and yellow peas aim to ease supply constraints and soften the price impact on consumers as the nation heads into the festive period.