Import of urad /moong dal into India now restricted to 3 lakh MT per annum

The Dollar Business Bureau

The Central government has issued a notification restricting the imports of urad/moong dal (split green gram/split black gram) into India. Imports of these pulses will now be subjected to an annual quota (fiscal year) of 3 lakh MT only. Earlier there was no quantitative restrictions imposed on the imports of these pulses into India.

It however said that this restriction will not apply to Government’s import commitments under any bilateral/regional Agreement/MOU. This was released via a notification 22/2015-2020 dated August 21, 2017.

It should be recollected that traders of moong/urad dal had demanded from the government that these lentils too should be extended the import restrictions that apply to tur dal or pigeon peas. The Commerce Ministry has restricted the import of pigeon peas to 2 lakh MT/annum until 2018. The traders and producers of moong dal/urad dal fear that the prices of these dals were below the state-set levels, causing losses to the farmers. Unrestricted imports of the same could cause further damage.

The MSP of urad dal is around Rs.54/kg while market rate is Rs.40/kg.