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The Indian Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA) on Wednesday said it was not in favour of any import duty on pulses.
At present, importers can bring in pulses duty free till March 31 next year. However, the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP) in its recent recommendations has suggested that the Government impose a 10 per cent duty on imports to boost domestic production.
Pravin Dongre, President, IPGA, clarified that his association was not in favour of any import duty but wanted the Government to consider opening up exports. “We believe in free trade and are against any kind of impediments” he said.
Further, opening up exports could help stabilise prices, which are at present ruling below the minimum support price levels in some markets.
The recent 10 per cent decline in rupee against the dollar has made pulses imports costlier and reduced the price differential between the domestic and imported varieties. “The impact of the rupee decline is like a duty too,” he said.
India’s pulses imports stood at around 3 million tonnes in 2012-13 and in value term they were estimated at over $1.5 billion.
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