New Delhi: Suggesting a major shift in agriculture policy, the Supreme Court on Friday asked the Central government to consult with domain experts and stakeholders to formulate a beneficial framework to encourage farmers to shift from traditional wheat and paddy crops to pulses. During the hearing on a PIL, initially questioning the wisdom of the government in importing yellow peas without import duty, which is currently pegged at 30%, Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman told a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi that a reduction in the production of pulses by 30 lakh tonnes between 2021 and 2024 was necessary to stabilize prices and protect consumer interests. The government was forced to import yellow peas for defence. CJI Kant, who comes from a farming family, said the government has provided minimum support price (MSP) for wheat, rice and millets, but not for pulses. “The moment you ensure that farmers get remunerative MSP for pulses, the production of which is lower than that of paddy or wheat in a given area, the production will automatically increase. Otherwise, small farmers will not take the risk of growing pulses because they are not sure whether it will cover the cost of investment and labour,” CJI Kant said. ”Please ask your agriculture ministry to consult people who understand the pulse of farmers and not foreign degree holders,” he said. He said that to encourage growth in pulse cultivation, the policy would have to provide not only a guaranteed price for pulses but also a guaranteed venue for the sale of pulses grown by farmers. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner, said the CJI’s views are reflected verbatim in the recent report of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), a statutory body attached to the Agriculture Ministry, which recommends MSP for 22 crops and Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane. “There is a need to have better coordination and understanding among various Ministries of the Central Government and to set up a mechanism under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for the promotion of pulses as an alternative to wheat or paddy in Northern and Central India and as an alternative to certain other crops in Southern India,” the bench said in its order. “In the absence of an incentive MSP for pulses, the price offered should be sufficient to meet the expenses of small farmers growing pulses,” the Supreme Court bench said.