India Pushes for Pulse Self-Sufficiency with New Procurements and Initiatives

The Centre will procure tur, urad, and masur at MSP to boost domestic production and reduce imports, said Agriculture Minister Chouhan. Key initiatives include the e-Samridhi portal, New Model Pulses Village scheme, and establishment of Pulse Seed Hubs. State cooperation and forecasts of above-normal monsoon rains bode well for achieving 2027 self-sufficiency targets.

In a significant move to enhance domestic production and cut down on imports, the Centre has pledged to procure tur, urad, and masur at Minimum Support Prices (MSP), according to Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Chouhan emphasized the government's dedication to crop diversification and self-sufficiency in pulse production by 2027 during a virtual meeting with state agriculture ministers on Friday. He introduced the e-Samridhi portal through cooperatives NAFED and NCCF to facilitate farmer registration, urging state governments to promote its usage for assured procurement.

The minister lauded states for boosting pulse production by 50% since 2015-16 and stressed the need for improved yield per hectare. Over the past decade, India has cut its pulse import dependency from 30% to 10%, achieving self-sufficiency in moong and chana. Initiatives include the New Model Pulses Village scheme, utilization of fallow lands post-rice harvest for pulse cultivation, promotion of tur inter-cropping, establishment of 150 Pulse Seed Hubs, and the development of climate-resilient, short-duration crop varieties. Chouhan called for better seed delivery systems and state seed corporations.

State agriculture ministers from key pulse-producing regions like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh attended the meeting, voicing their support and optimism due to forecasts of favorable monsoon rains. The Union Minister also invited them for a detailed meeting in Delhi to discuss broader agricultural challenges and solutions.

The meeting was also attended by Union Ministers of State for Agriculture Ram Nath Thakur and Bhagirath Chaudhary, Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja, and ICAR Director General Himanshu Pathak.

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