The Government of India has updated its agricultural import policy for the coming fiscal year, continuing duty‑free treatment on key pulses such as pigeon pea and black matpe, while maintaining a 30% import tariff on yellow peas through March 2027.
Under the revised tariff structure, imports of pigeon pea and black matpe will continue to enter India without basic customs duty, supporting supply availability for processors and consumers alike. These duty‑free provisions are aimed at stabilizing domestic markets and ensuring an adequate supply of these staple pulses.
At the same time, India’s tax authorities — through customs notifications — have upheld a combined 30% tariff on all yellow pea imports, consisting of a basic customs duty and an agriculture infrastructure development cess, as part of an ongoing policy first introduced in late 2025 to support domestic pulse prices and production. This tariff came into force on November 1, 2025 and extends through the next fiscal year to March 31, 2027.
Officials say that retaining the tariff on yellow peas is intended to shield Indian farmers from surges of relatively cheaper imported peas, which can undercut local production and suppress farmgate prices. While zero duty on pigeon pea and black matpe aims to balance consumer affordability and trade flows, the higher duty on yellow peas reflects continuing concerns about import competitiveness and domestic crop viability.
Trade analysts note that yellow peas have historically faced fluctuating import duties in India, alternating between duty‑free and tariffed status based on domestic price trends and food inflation. The current duty regime comes amid efforts to promote self‑sufficiency in pulses and reduce import dependence, even as global supplies and trade dynamics evolve.
Industry stakeholders say the tariff differential will likely influence sourcing decisions by importers, processors and exporters, with some traders adjusting supply chains to focus on duty‑free categories where possible, while managing the higher cost of yellow pea imports.
The continuation of these policies confirms New Delhi’s approach to balancing agricultural trade liberalization with protective measures for domestic growers, as part of broader efforts to stabilize the pulses sector and manage food security.
