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Context

The NITI Aayog’s report, Strategies and Pathways for Accelerating Growth in Pulses towards the Goal of Atmanirbharta, outlines a roadmap to boost pulses production, reduce import dependency, and ensure food security.

What Are Pulses?

Pulses are edible seeds of leguminous plants, rich in protein (20–25%), fiber, and micronutrients like iron and zinc.

They are vital source of protein for vegetarian population and essential for sustainable agriculture due to their nitrogen-fixing properties, which enhance soil fertility. Pulses’ low water needs make them climate-resilient crops.

Current Status of Pulses in India

India is the world's largest producer (25% of global production), consumer (27% of world consumption), and importer (14% of pulses).

Pulses, accounting for 20% of foodgrains and 7%-10% of total production in India, about 55% production comes from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.

Major Pulses: Gram (40%), Arhar/Tur (15–20%), Urad, and Moong (8–10% each) dominate production

Productivity: India’s pulse yield (660 kg/ha) lags behind the global average (909 kg/ha)

Import Dependence: Lower domestic production, India imports pulses mainly from Myanmar, Canada, Australia, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

Challenges in Achieving Nutritional Security Through Pulses

Low Productivity: Poor seed quality, limited high-yielding varieties (HYVs), and outdated farming practices keep yields low.

Policy Bias: MSP and subsidies favor rice and wheat, pushing pulses to marginal, rain-fed lands (80% of production).

Inadequate Procurement: Farmers sell below MSP due to weak procurement systems, discouraging pulse cultivation.

Climatic Risks: Rain-fed pulses face monsoon variability, droughts, and unseasonal rains, reducing output.

Fragmented Farming: Small landholdings (<2 ha) limit economies of scale and investment in modern inputs.

Post-Harvest Losses: Losses of 5.65–6.74% occur due to poor storage and handling.

Weak Seed Systems: Low seed replacement rates and inadequate breeder seed supply hinder quality seed access.

Government Initiatives to Boost Pulses Production

Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses (2025-26): A ₹1,000 crore, six-year plan targets Arhar, Urad, and Masoor to achieve self-reliance by 2027.

National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Pulses: Operates in 28 states and 2 UTs, promoting HYVs, seed hubs, and cluster demonstrations.

PM-AASHA Scheme: Ensures MSP procurement and price deficiency payments.

Pulse Cultivation Campaign (2025): Targets 12 districts across 7 states (e.g., Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh) with ₹1 crore for seed distribution and 100% MSP procurement.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Role: Developed 343 HYVs/hybrids (2014–2023) for commercial cultivation.

Crop Diversification Programme (CDP): Encourages shifting from paddy to pulses in Green Revolution states.

Bharat Dal Scheme: Subsidizes chana, mung, and masur dal in PDS to boost consumption.

Strategies for Atmanirbharta in Pulses: NITI Aayog Report

Horizontal Expansion: Utilize rice fallow lands and promote intercropping (e.g., cotton with pulses). Target 111 high-potential districts for area expansion.

Vertical Expansion: Adopt HYVs, seed treatment kits, and precision farming (e.g., soil health cards, AI-driven pest management) to boost yields. Promote micro-irrigation in rain-fed states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Other Recommendations

• Establish “One Block–One Seed Village” hubs via Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) for quality seed access. Strengthen MSP procurement and expand PM-AASHA coverage.
• Build modern storage (e.g., silos, hermetic storage) to cut post-harvest losses.
• Use ICT platforms (SAATHI Portal, Krishi Mapper) for real-time monitoring.

Conclusion

Pulses are critical for nutritional security, rural livelihoods, and sustainable agriculture. However, low yields, policy biases, and import dependency threaten progress. By scaling up MSP procurement, promoting HYVs, leveraging rice fallows, and building robust storage, India can achieve self-sufficiency in pulses by 2027.

Source:  THE HINDU