The government has extended duty-free import of chana, also known as gram or chickpeas, till March-end in view of fall in sowing area under the crop.
The Finance Ministry has extended the zero duty regime for chana although the Agriculture Ministry was pushing for a 10 per cent duty in view of declining chana prices, which have fallen even below the minimum support price of Rs 3,100 per quintal in some parts of the country.
In a notification issued late yesterday, the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) said it has extended "zero customs duty on chickpeas (gram) up to March 31, 2015."
The zero duty on imported chana was valid till yesterday.
At present, pulses are imported at zero duty across the board for any category.
Similarly, export of pulses is prohibited except for chickpeas (Kabuli Chana) and organic pulses.
The Agriculture Ministry wanted to restrict inward shipment of chana even as the country is dependent on imports to meet its domestic requirement of pulses.
The country generally imports 3-4 million tonnes of different varieties of pulses annually.
In 2013-14 crop year, production of chana -- a rabi crop -- stood at 9.88 million tonnes, up from 8.83 million tonnes in the previous year.
In the ongoing rabi season, chana sowing is under way and so far the coverage is lower at 7.78 million hectares as compared to 9.06 million hectares.
India imports chickpeas and dried peas from Australia and Tanzania. Domestic production of chana is mostly concentrated in central and southern parts of the country.
