It may come as a surprise that once upon a time, Nepal used to export pulses worth more than billions annually. Some may not even believe it. After Nepalese ready-made clothes and carpets, the third foreign exchange earning export item was mussuro dal. In the financial year 2048/049, Sri Lanka only exported pulses worth 1.14 billion from Nepal. At that time, ready-to-wear was the highest US dollar earner. The second exportable item was carpet and the third item was musuro dal.

Sri Lanka, which is the main market of Nepali pulses, increased the customs duty, so the foreign export of Nepali lentils decreased for the second year. In the year 2049/050, only 1.9 billion pulses were exported to Sri Lanka . Sri Lanka had increased 20 percent customs duty on the import of Nepalese pulses. Sri Lanka not only increased the customs duty but Turkey gave a 50 percent subsidy per ton to encourage the export of pulses, Nepal's pulse export suffered a big blow. 

According to Motilal Dugad, President of Dal Mill Association, Nepali dal has stopped being sold in the Sri Lankan market after Turkey's dal became cheaper. Because Turkish dal was cheaper than Nepali. Turkish pulses were sold in Sri Lanka at 353 US dollars per ton. But Nepali dal was 450 US dollars per ton. According to the policy of open economy, Nepal stopped the subsidy on the export of all goods.

Ministry of Commerce said that it will negotiate with Sri Lanka according to the spirit of the South Asian Cooperation Organization (SAARC). Nepal said that it will request Sri Lanka to reduce the customs duty . 

But Dugad, president of Dal Association, said that such a proposal of the government is not practical. Nepali dal exporters said that it would be practical for the government to give subsidies rather than requesting a reduction in customs duty . The businessmen suggested that by giving subsidy on pulses, the way of export should be opened not only to Sri Lanka, but also to other countries . 

After Sri Lanka, Nepalese lentils used to be exported to India. Businessmen said that government subsidy is the appropriate measure to enable Sri Lanka to compete with pulses from other countries. From March 2049 to the third week of November 2050, the Department of Commerce had given permission to export pulses worth 788.6 million rupees . The export of pulses decreased by 30 percent in the year 2050/051.