Ambitious target set for production of 299 lakh tonnes of pulses

28-May-2024 08:21 PM

New Delhi . The Union Agriculture Ministry has set a target of domestic production of 299 lakh tonnes of pulses for the entire marketing season of 2024-25, which appears to be very ambitious.

It is worth noting that when there were good monsoon rains in the 2021-22 season, the domestic production of pulses reached a new record level of 273 lakh tonnes (government estimate), which decreased to 260.60 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 and to 260.60 lakh tonnes in 2023-23. It fell to 234.40 lakh tonnes in 2014.

Thus, the production target for the 2024-25 season is about 65 lakh tonnes more than the estimated production for 2023-24. Such a one-time increase in production would be a great achievement.

The target set from this 299 lakh tonnes includes the potential production of 45 lakh tonnes of arhar (tur), 30.50 lakh tonnes of urad, 42.50 lakh tonnes of moong, 136.50 lakh tonnes of gram and 16.50 lakh tonnes of lentils.

The target of production of pulses has been set at 95 lakh tonnes in Kharif season, 181.50 lakh tonnes in Rabi season and 22.50 lakh tonnes in Zaid season. 

The industry-trade sector believes that if this production target is achieved, the country will become self-sufficient in pulses to a great extent and the need for its import from abroad will reduce significantly.

Only the production of lentils will be less than the domestic demand and consumption, while the production of tur will be almost in line with the requirement and the production of moong, urad and gram will be more than the requirement. The market price of pulses is high, hence there can be a good increase in its sowing area.