Domestic production of pulses is much less than the use

10-Feb-2025 05:56 PM

India's domestic production of pulses is facing a significant gap between supply and demand, and the government is taking steps to address this.

The Union Agriculture Ministry has set a target to increase pulse production by 2.3% to 299 lakh tonnes during the 2024-25 season, but the actual production is expected to fall short due to adverse weather conditions in 2023-24, which led to a 7% reduction in production compared to the previous year.

In response, the government has launched a six-year Pulses Mission to make India self-sufficient in pulse production and reduce dependence on imports.

Special focus will be given to pulses like tur, urad, and lentils. As part of this mission, agencies like NAFED and NCCF will continue to purchase pulses from farmers for the next four years, with no upper limit on purchases.

This move is expected to help stabilize prices and ensure that farmers have a reliable market for their produce.

India's reliance on pulse imports has been growing. In the last five years, over 11% of India's pulse consumption was imported, and in 2024, this figure rose to 24.57%.

The major suppliers include Canada, Australia, Russia, Myanmar, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Malawi.

To further support farmers, government agencies have resumed purchasing tur (a popular pulse) at the minimum support price (MSP) after a two-year break.

This initiative has begun in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, where the market price for tur has fallen below the MSP.

In Karnataka, the MSP for tur is set at Rs 7,550 per quintal, with an additional bonus of Rs 450 per quintal provided by the state government.

This will bring the total purchase price to Rs 8,000 per quintal, offering relief to farmers facing lower market prices.

This comprehensive approach aims to boost domestic pulse production, support farmers' income, and reduce the nation's dependence on imported pulses.