India has extended the timeline for duty-free imports of yellow peas by two more months until December 2024, according to an official notification from DGFT.
In early December 2023, the central government allowed duty-free imports of yellow peas until March 2024, later to be extended till April, then June, and later till October.
It was part of New Delhi’s intervention to cool the prices of the overall pulse basket. Reportedly, the duty on yellow peas was first implemented in November 2017 at 50 per cent.
India largely imports yellow peas from Canada and Russia. India is a large consumer and grower of pulses and it meets a portion of its consumption needs through imports.
India primarily consumes chana, Masur, urad, Kabuli chana, and tur pulses. Despite several measures, including various incentives to farmers, India is still dependent on imports of pulses for its domestic requirements.