Ban on dollar chana lifted

The government has lifted the ban on exports of dollar chana to check a fall in its prices and protect farmers' interest, said a government release today. In June last year, the government had imposed a blanket ban on export of pulses to control their rising prices.

The department of commerce, which received representations to allow export of this particular variety, as it was mainly grown for exports, in consultation with the food and agriculture ministry then decided to lift the ban.

This particular variety of chana is mostly grown in Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. Following the ban, prices slipped from Rs 4,000-4,500 a quintal to Rs 2,500, acting as a disincentive to growers.