In a move to protect farmers’ interest, the Ministry of Agriculture has moved a proposal, slapping import duty of not less than 25 per cent on gram (chana) to curb shipments and protect local farmers from possible price crash in the wake of record output. The Ministry is of the view that imports need to be controlled for at least chana to protect farmers’ interest.
After retail prices skyrocketed to `200 per kg last year, the Government took several steps to boost domestic production and reduce import dependence. Now, that the output has increased sharply by 6 million tonnes, the Government wants to ensure that farmers get right price for their produce and continue sowing pulses in the coming years.
India is all set to harvest a record 22 million tonnes of pulses including 9 million tonnes of chana.
Top sources told The Pioneer that the Ministry of Agriculture has moved a proposal to impose import duty on chana as it fears that the prices of the rabi crop could fall sharply to the disadvantage of farmers. The Government does not want to impose import duty on other varieties of pulses as the country will still have to depend on other Countries in spite of record output this year, sources said.