Government imposes 30% import duty on chana, masoor

NEW DELHI: To protect the interest of farmers, the government on Thursday imposed 30% import duty on chana and masoor as their production of is expected to be high during the forthcoming Rabi season.

“Cheap imports, if allowed unabated are likely to adversely affect the interest of farmers. Taking these factors into consideration and to protect the interest of the farmers government has decided to increase the said import duty,” the government said in a statement.

At present, tur attracts 10% import duty. Further, Government has recently imposed 50% import duty on yellow peas. Other pulses, however, attract zero import duty. There has been a record production of pulses in the current year.


However, despite sufficient domestic availability, import of pulses continue to take place on account of low prevailing international prices. Such imports suppress the domestic prices of pulses and adversely affect the interest of farmers.