The Supreme Court of India recently demanded a detailed response from the central government concerning a petition that seeks to restrict the import of yellow peas. These peas, often used as a pulse substitute, are flooding the market duty-free, a practice that farmers argue is severely driving down prices and undermining their livelihoods.
A three-judge Bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan, and N.K. Singh, heard the plea brought forward by the Kisan Mahapanchayat, a prominent farmers’ organization. The organization contends that the continuous influx of duty-free yellow peas has caused market prices to plummet significantly below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) guaranteed for essential domestic pulses like tur (arhar), chana, and moong. Shockingly, imported yellow peas are reportedly selling at approximately ₹3,500 per quintal, which is less than half the ₹7,000–₹8,000 MSP set for domestically grown pulses.
Representing the petitioner, Advocate Prashant Bhushan highlighted that even expert government bodies have voiced concerns. He cited a March 2025 report by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), an advisory body to the Ministry of Agriculture, which recommended an outright ban on further yellow pea imports and suggested increasing duties on other pulses such as tur, lentil, and urad. Furthermore, a September 2025 report from NITI Aayog echoed these warnings, stressing that heavy reliance on imports is unsustainable and advocating for government policies that actively incentivize domestic cultivation.
“Numerous reports from expert bodies, including those affiliated with the government, have explicitly recommended halting yellow pea imports because of their detrimental impact on a vast segment of Indian farmers,” Mr. Bhushan asserted.
However, Justice Kant posed a critical question: “Is our domestic pulse production truly sufficient to meet the nation’s demand? Farmers often lack adequate storage facilities, forcing them to sell their produce early and frequently at prices below even the MSP.”
‘Farmers are in dire straits’
Mr. Bhushan passionately argued that farmers are being compelled to sell their produce at prices lower than their actual cultivation costs, a direct consequence of market erosion caused by duty-free imports. He also pointed out that the government’s orders allowing these free imports were issued “without any justifiable reasons whatsoever.”
“Everyone is expressing deep concern… Farmers are struggling, even driven to suicide,” he emphasized, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The Bench acknowledged the serious nature of the issue and indicated its inclination to issue a notice, particularly in light of the recommendations from respected institutions like the CACP and NITI Aayog. “We are inclined to issue notice solely because of these reports from highly responsible institutions. But ultimately, we must ensure that our actions do not inadvertently lead to consumers suffering,” the Bench remarked.
The petition further highlighted a striking contradiction: the government’s import policy directly conflicts with the advice from its own expert bodies. Official figures reveal that India imported an unprecedented 6.7 million tonnes of pulses in 2024, with yellow peas alone making up a staggering 2.9 million tonnes of this total.
“The majority of these imports have occurred at rates below the MSP, severely impacting farmers’ incomes and distorting the domestic market for pulses. This sharp increase in imports has generated considerable alarm among local producers, as the flood of cheaper imported yellow peas is destabilizing markets, affecting local prices, and undermining the interests of Indian farmers,” the plea, filed through advocate Neha Rathi, detailed.
This issue has also triggered significant internal government concern. In August, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan formally wrote to Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, warning that the continuous duty-free yellow pea imports were suppressing domestic prices and discouraging farmers from expanding pulse cultivation. Earlier, during her February Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced a six-year “Mission for Aatmanirbharta” (self-reliance) in pulses, specifically targeting tur (pigeon pea), urad (black gram), and masoor (red lentil).