A section of growers have urged the government to levy a 30 per cent Customs duty on pulses as cheaper imports are hindering them from getting remunerative prices for their produce.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Karnataka Pradesh Red Gram Growers Association has asked for a sustainable policy for pulses to protect farmers' interest while also being consumer friendly.

Basavaraj Ingin, President of the Karnataka Pradesh Red Gram Growers Association, suggested that the Government impose a duty of 30 per cent in the forthcoming Budget to curb cheaper imports of pulses. Imposing duty would also curb the foreign exchange outgo, he said. Currently, pulses across categories are imported into the country at zero duty.

Ingin said the price differential between the domestic and imported pulses is about 30 per cent and the duty should be levied to such an extent.

Further, Ingin said, the government should start supplying pulses through the public distribution system across the country, while exploring options to incentivise exports to maintain stability in prices.

Karnataka accounts for about a fifth of the tur produced in the country. Recently, hundreds of farmers staged a protest in Gulbarga, the main tur producing region, demanding ₹6,000 a quintal to cover the rising production costs. Tur prices are currently hovering between ₹4,800 and ₹5,400 a quintal in the region, higher than the minimum support price of ₹4,350 announced by the Government for the 2014-15 marketing season.

The Agriculture Ministry has proposed an imposition of a 10 per cent duty on chana to curb cheaper imports and protect farmers from sliding prices. This was in the backdrop of chana prices ruling below the MSP of ₹3,100\quintal in some parts of the country. However, duty-free import of chana has been allowed till March.

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