'Used to feed cattle': Why SC wants govt reply on yellow pea imports & why farmers are concerned

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday sought the government's response to a public interest litigation (PIL) that has called for restrictions on the import of yellow peas, citing concerns that the cheap supply of the pulse substitute is affecting the livelihoods of Indian farmers.

Yellow peas (Pisum sativum) belong to the legume family but are not traditionally grown in India. They are imported and increasingly used as a substitute for pulses like tur/arhar dal, chana, moong, and urad. According to the PIL, in countries such as Canada, the US, and Australia, yellow peas are primarily used to feed cattle.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan, and N Kotiswar Singh issued notice on the PIL filed by the farmers’ body Kisan Mahapanchayat, news agency PTI reported. The court asked advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the group, to examine whether domestic pulse production is sufficient to meet demand. "We are inclined to issue notice but the net result should not be that the end consumers suffer," the bench said.

Bhushan told the court that the import of yellow peas at around Rs 35 per kg was hurting farmers who grow pulses such as tur dal, moong dal, and urad dal, which have an MSP of Rs 85 per kg. He said multiple government expert bodies, including the agriculture ministry and NITI Aayog, have advised against unrestricted yellow pea imports, and emphasized the need to boost domestic pulse production.

The bench raised concerns about potential market shortages and health impacts, noting that yellow peas are used as cattle fodder in some countries. Bhushan responded that there are adverse health effects on humans consuming yellow peas and added that the situation has contributed to farmer distress and suicides.

The plea has sought directions to set aside the May 31 notification issued by the Centre, or any similar notifications, that permit unrestricted imports of yellow peas. It also asks the government to impose restrictions ensuring that imported yellow peas are sold at or above the MSP.

The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Centre and will hear the matter further once the government responds.

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