Tur dal import News

Ahead of summer sowing, the Agriculture Ministry has proposed further hike in the import duty of tur dal (pigeon pea) from 10 percent to 20 percent in a bid to curb overseas purchase, arrest steep fall in wholesale prices and keep farmers' morale high.

Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday said his ministry is in favour of increasing import duty on tur dal from 10 percent to 25 percent in the interest of farmers.

The government has imposed 10 percent import duty on wheat and tur dal with immediate effect in a bid to protect farmers' interest, amid projection of a record crop this year.

Amid production concerns due to back-to-back drought, the government has issued a tender for importing 5,000 tonnes of pigeon peas (tur) to boost domestic supply and control prices.