Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday that the government has set a target to increase the production of pulses by 40 per cent to 350 lakh tonnes by 2030-31.
Recently, the Union Cabinet had approved a six-year central scheme aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in pulses production with a financial outlay of Rs 11,440 crore. The “Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses” will be for the period 2025-26 to 2030-31.
Addressing the media, Chauhan said the production would be increased over the next six years by increasing the area under cultivation and raising the crop productivity. Confident that the target would be met, the minister assured that the government would take appropriate decisions related to import duties of pulses for safeguarding the interests of farmers.
Chouhan said the government has identified 100 blocks where the productivity is very low as compared to the national average. "We are not self-sufficient in pulses so far," he pointed out.
He highlighted that India is the world's largest producer, but it is also the biggest consumer. We have to import a large quantity of pulses to meet domestic demand. But by 2030-31, we will increase the acreage under pulses to 310 lakh hectares from 275 lakh hectares as of now. We have also kept the target to increase the output to 350 lakh tonnes from 242 lakh tonnes in 2023-24," the minister said.
Chouhan said the crop productivity would be enhanced to 1,130 kg per hectare from the current average yield of 881 kg per hectare.
The mission, announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in this year's budget, will particularly focus on increasing production of tur, urad and masur with assured procurement by government agencies National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) and National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Ltd (NCCF) from registered farmers.
India won't bow to global pressure, says Chouhan
Chouhan said India would not compromise on its national interest amid a volatile geopolitical situation where trade and tariffs have become weapons. He said India must further strengthen food security without relying on global markets.
Addressing an annual general meeting of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chouhan said, "Amid the volatile geopolitical situation where nations are fighting with each other, where trade and tariffs are treated as weapons, where nations are ruling the world at their whims.... In such a situation, India has to choose its path. We will not come under pressure of anyone. Protecting our country's interest is our duty and it is necessary for global peace. A responsible country like India should rise."
Also read: ₹11,440-cr Mission to make India self-reliant in pulses
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