The government is promoting pulse cultivation, specifically 'arhar' and 'urad', in Naxal-affected and tribal areas of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to boost production and increase farmers' income, a government official said.
The initiative, which targets non-traditional pulse-growing regions, is being piloted by the National Co-operative Consumers' Federation of India Ltd (NCCF). If successful, it could expand nationwide, reducing India's reliance on pulse imports.
"We're promoting arhar and urad production this kharif season in selected Naxal-affected and tribal areas of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, including women farmers," NCCF Managing Director Anice Joseph Chandra told PTI.
Chandra said that hybrid seeds have been distributed to farmers in districts such as Rajnandgaon, Jashpur, Bastar, and Mohla Manpur in Chhattisgarh, and Palamu, Katihar, Dumka, and Garwa in Jharkhand.
Farmers are encouraged to pre-register on the NCCF’s e-Samyukti portal to sell their produce, while offline applications are available for those less familiar with technology.
The NCCF will purchase pulses at the minimum support price (MSP), though farmers can sell to private traders if market prices exceed the MSP. "Assured buying will encourage farmers to expand cultivation and improve their income, while helping reduce India's pulse imports," Chandra said.
NCCF, which procures pulses for government buffer stocks, aims to source half of its target quantity through this initiative. The cooperative is also engaging in contract farming with pulse growers, offering them the flexibility to sell either to NCCF or private traders.
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