Pulses import duties under scanner in bid to boost production

Cheaper imports of some farm produce, such as pulses, are being closely monitored and their impacts scrutinized, after a view within the government, long echoed by farmers, that these tend to drive down domestic production, increasing dependence on overseas markets, two officials said on Monday.

- Zia Haq

The move stems partly from the Modi government's public campaign to promote swadeshi or homegrown products to shore up the world’s fifth-largest economy buffeted by the US's steep 50% tariffs.

The agriculture ministry has been asked to provide detailed projections on pulses (or lentils), a group of scarce farm items and a common source of protein for most Indians. Prime Minister Modi last week launched a mission to ratchet up domestic production of key lentils to end imports by 2030.

“There will be closer coordination between the agriculture and commerce ministries on this and the agriculture department will provide all inputs. We are actively reviewing agricultural import duties. We need to strike a balance between consumer inflation and domestic production,” one of the officials said.