India, the world’s largest producer and consumer of pulses, still finds itself perennially dependent on imports to meet domestic demand. Nowhere is this more visible than in the country’s growing reliance on yellow peas—a cheaper alternative to traditional dals like chana and toor—currently flooding Indian markets through duty-free imports extended until March 2026.
This policy has triggered uproar from farmer groups and economists alike, who argue it undermines India’s long-term goal of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in agriculture, particularly in pulses.
The Import Dilemma
According to trade data, India imported a record 6.63 million tonnes of pulses in 2024—nearly double the volume of the previous year. Yellow peas accounted for a staggering 2.9 million tonnes, or 45% of the total import basket. Until 2023, India had imported zero yellow peas, but in a bid to cool inflation, the government waived off duties and import restrictions—triggering what critics call an “open floodgate for dumping” by exporters from Canada and Russia.
While urban consumers benefited from lower prices, the move dealt a blow to Indian farmers, particularly those cultivating chana and toor, whose prices have plummeted below the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Aatmanirbharta vs. Import Extensions
The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), in its 2025-26 Kharif price policy report, explicitly recommended a ban on yellow pea imports. It argued that unregulated and cheap imports have resulted in pulses like urad, moong, and tur selling below MSP, disincentivizing farmers from expanding cultivation.
“Aligning import duty structure with MSP will ensure remunerative prices to farmers and encourage them to increase area and production of oilseeds and pulses,” the CACP stated.
The commission has called for a comprehensive diversification strategy, investment in climate-resilient varieties, and improved procurement and storage mechanisms to create an ecosystem conducive to higher pulse production.
Policy vs. Farmer Plight
The current extension, under Notification No. 16/2025-26 dated May 31, 2025, runs counter to past legal and policy precedent. In landmark judgments like Union of India vs Agricas LLP and Raj Grow Impex LLP, the Supreme Court had upheld restrictions on pulse imports to protect domestic farmers from market crashes.
Yet, today’s policy direction seems to contradict those findings. Farmer bodies like Kisan Mahapanchayat argue that yellow peas, as a substitute for besan (gram flour), are distorting the market for chana and must be reined in.
“Why are we letting foreign surplus dictate Indian mandi prices when our farmers are barely recovering costs?” questioned Rampal Jat, National President of Kisan Mahapanchayat in a formal representation to the government.
So, When Will India Be Self-Sufficient?
India’s pulse production hit a high of 27.3 million tonnes in 2021-22, but has stagnated since. The country still imports about 10-12% of its total consumption, especially urad and tur, due to erratic domestic supply and inconsistent yields.
While 2024-25 projections offer cautious optimism—with higher output expected in moong and tur—a near 20% drop in urad production and volatile prices underscore how fragile the system remains.
The Road Ahead: Bridging the Yield Gap
India’s quest for pulse self-sufficiency hinges on:
• Raising productivity: The yield gap between Indian pulses and global averages remains significant.
• Price incentives: Farmers need guaranteed and timely MSP procurement, especially in underserved states like UP and Bihar.
• Policy stability: Ad-hoc import relaxations send mixed signals to producers.
The government’s commitment to “Aatmanirbharta in pulses” is commendable, but without consistent trade policy, targeted R&D, and robust market support, it risks being just another slogan.
As the clock ticks toward 2026 and the next general election cycle, the question lingers: Will India choose its farmers—or its importers?
