Centre imposes 10% import duty, 20% additional cess on yellow pea imports ahead of kharif season

The Centre announced on Wednesday a 10% import duty and an additional 20% Agriculture Infrastructure Development Cess (AIDC) on yellow pea imports, to be effective from November 1.

The total levy of 30% marks a significant policy shift aimed at supporting domestic pulse growers ahead of the upcoming kharif season.

For months, farmer groups had been urging the government to restrict duty-free imports of yellow peas from countries like Canada and Russia. They argued that the influx of cheap imports was depressing domestic market prices and undermining the returns for local growers.