Red Gram Crisis: Raitha Sangha Demands Import Duty Hike to Save Karnataka Farmers

Raitha Sangha, a prominent farmers' organization in Karnataka, on Tuesday demanded that the central government raise the import duty on red gram (tur dal) to protect local growers from a sharp decline in prices. The appeal comes as farmers in the state struggle with a bumper crop and increased arrivals in mandis, which have driven down wholesale rates below the minimum support price (MSP).

The farmers' group argues that cheaper imports from Myanmar, Mozambique, and other African countries are flooding the domestic market and undercutting local produce. According to Raitha Sangha leaders, red gram prices have fallen by nearly 20% in the past month, causing distress among growers who are unable to recover even their cultivation costs. They have urged the government to either increase the import duty from the current 10% to at least 30% or impose a quantitative restriction on imports.

The demand puts pressure on the central government, which has been trying to balance farmer welfare with trade commitments and domestic inflation. A duty hike could raise prices for consumers and strain relations with trading partners, but ignoring the farmers' plea risks further agrarian unrest in poll-bound Karnataka. The government has not yet commented on the matter, but officials indicate that the issue is under review. The outcome will be closely watched by farmer groups across India.