Welcoming the move by the Centre to remove export restrictions on select pulses, the trade body, India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA) stated that the decision would benefit the entire pulses value-chain starting from farmers.

On Friday late evening, the Centre lifted the ban on export of select pulses such as tur (pigeon peas), urad (black gram) and moong dal (green gram), which were earlier prohibited to protect the retail prices from going up.

However, the restrictions accompanied by a record crop and import of pulses, pulled down prices below minimum support prices at several markets, thereby, prompting farmers to shift from pulses to other crops owing to losses.

The latest data released by the Ministry of Agriculture showed a 3.55 per cent decline in kharif pulses sowing at 140.38 lakh hectares as against 145.55 lakh hectares reported last year.

IPGA Chairman, Pravin Dongre, stated, "This step will correct price distortions, offer support to pulses selling below MSP and revitalise the milling industry. We believe this step will improve returns to farmers and potentially open up greater investments in the sector."

According to a notification issued by the Directorate-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the export of pulses will only be allowed after registration of contracts with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). "The export shall be through Custom EDI ports, however, the export through the non-EDI Land Custom Stations (LCS), on the Indo-Nepal border shall also be allowed subject to registration of quantity with DGFT," the DGFT notification stated.

The move by the Centre comes on the back of a long-pending demand of farmers and traders to get remunerative prices for their pulses crop after a bumper production in the 2016-17 crop year.

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