Description

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Context

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech announced the allocation of Rs 1,000 crore to a six-year mission — called the “Pulse Mission” — to boost the output of pulses to help achieve self-sufficiency.

Key features of the Mission

MSP-Based Procurement: NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) and NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India) will procure pulses from farmers who register and enter into agreements.
- Aim: Ensure fair prices for farmers and stabilize market prices.
Post-Harvest Warehousing: Focus on reducing post-harvest losses and improving storage infrastructure.
Budget Allocation: ₹1,000 crore allocated for the mission.

Objectives:

Achieve self-reliance in pulses production.
Provide MSP-based procurement and post-harvest warehousing solutions.
Reduce dependence on imports.
Targeted Crops:
- Tur/Arhar
- Urad
- Masoor

About Pulses

About Tur/Arhar

Tur/Arhar is a legume plant that is a staple food in India.
It is also known as pigeon pea and red gram.
India: largest producer in the world

About Urad dal

Urad dal also known as black gram is a lentil-like bean that is a staple of Indian cuisine.
It is a rich source of protein and vitamins, and is used in both sweet and savory dishes.
India is the largest producer and consumer of urad bean.

About Lentil (Masur)

Lentil, scientifically known as Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris, is a highly nutritious pulse crop widely consumed in India and globally.
It is commonly referred to as Masur or Malka (bold-seeded variety).

Largest producer: Canada

Sources:

INDIAN EXPRESS

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. The Pulse Mission announced in Union Budget aims to:

Encourage farmers to cultivate pulses by providing market protection.
Promote crop diversification in regions heavily dependent on wheat and rice.
Reduce India's dependence on pulse imports by increasing domestic production.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct – The Pulse Mission aims to encourage farmers to cultivate pulses by ensuring price stability and market protection.
Statement 2 is correct – It seeks to promote crop diversification, especially in states like Punjab, where wheat and rice dominate cultivation.
Statement 3 is correct – A major goal is to reduce pulse imports and enhance domestic production to meet India's growing demand.