INTRODUCTION

India's push for self-sufficiency in pulses faces renewed challenges despite previous achievements, with rising imports and policy inconsistencies affecting domestic production. The government's latest initiative aims to enhance MSP-based procurement and boost cultivation, but structural and market-related hurdles persist.

What are Pulses?

• Pulses are edible seeds of leguminous plants that are high in protein, fibre, and essential nutrients.

• They play a crucial role in India's food security, crop diversification, and soil fertility by fixing nitrogen in the soil.

• Pulses are 20 to 25 percent protein by weight which is double the protein content of wheat and three times that of rice. 

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

Major Types of Pulses in India & Their Features

Import Trends

• Surge in Imports: 

• Pulses imports in April-November 2024 stood at $3.28 billion, a 56.6% rise from $2.09 billion in 2023.

• Masoor shipments at a record 16.76 lt and tur/arhar crossing 10 lt for the first time.

• Historical Import Trends: Imports peaked at 66.09 lt ($4.24 billion) in 2016-17, dropped to 24.96 lt ($1.94 billion) in 2022-23, but surged again to 47.38 lt ($3.75 billion) in 2023-24 due to drought.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Pulses Production Trends

  • Overall Growth: Domestic production increased from 192.55 lt in 2013-14 to 273.02 lt in 2021-22 and 260.58 lt in 2022-23.

  • Key Contributors: Chana and moong have driven this growth, with chana production rising from 95.26 lt (2013-14) to 135.44 lt (2021-22), and moong from 14.56 lt to 36.76 lt in the same period.

  • Technological Advancements in Pulses Cultivation

  • Short-Duration Chana: New varieties mature in 100-120 days (earlier 140-150 days) with minimal irrigation.

  • Multiple Moong Crops: Farmers now cultivate four crops annually—kharif, rabi, spring, and summer—with maturity periods ranging from 50-75 days.

  • Photo-Thermo Insensitive Varieties: Developed for moong, enabling year-round cultivation in diverse climates.

  • Government’s MSP Procurement Efforts

  • Chana Procurement: 25.56 lt in 2022-23 and 23.53 lt in 2023-24.

  • Moong Procurement: 4.08 lt in 2022-23 and 3.35 lt in 2023-24.

  • Future Expansion: The new initiative aims to extend similar MSP procurement strategies to tur/arhar, urad, and masoor

  Challenges

  • Long Crop Duration & Low Yields:

  • Despite breeding improvements, tur/arhar still takes 150-180 days with yields of 15-16 quintals/ha, limiting its expansion beyond rainfed areas in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

  • Indian pulse yield stands at one tonne per hectare, while Canada produces four tonnes per hectare.

  • Need for Hybrid Varieties: Achieving self-sufficiency requires hybrids maturing in 140-150 days with 18-20 quintals/ha yields and mechanical harvesting adaptability.

  • Policy Ambiguity: While the government promotes pulses cultivation, current market prices for tur/arhar remain below MSP, discouraging farmers.

  • Impact of Duty-Free Imports: The government’s extension of duty-free imports until March 2026 affects domestic prices and farmer incentives.

  • Competing Crop Choices: Farmers may prefer high-income crops like sugarcane and cereals over pulses, reducing overall acreage expansion.

  • Limited Irrigation and Infrastructure Support

  • Major pulse-growing states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh rely on rainfed agriculture.

  • Lack of mechanisation and modern farming techniques hinders productivity.

  • Stray Animal Damage: Pulses, particularly tur, suffer significant damage from stray cattle, which has deterred farmers from cultivating them.

  Government Initiatives for Pulses Production

  • Key Announcements of Union Budget 2025-26

  • Budget Allocation: ₹1,000 crore allocated for an MSP-based procurement and post-harvest warehousing scheme for three pulses crops.

  • Procurement Agencies: National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF) will procure pulses from registered farmers under pre-agreed terms.

  • Price Support Scheme (PSS) under Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)

  • Implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW).

  • Ensures MSP-based procurement of notified oilseeds, pulses, and copra.

  • For Tur, Masoor, and Urad, the 25% procurement limit has been lifted for 2023-24 and 2024-25 to encourage higher domestic production.

  • National Food Security Mission (NFSM)

  • Implemented in 28 States & 2 Union Territories (J&K and Ladakh).

  • Aims to increase production of foodgrains, including pulses, through improved seeds, technology, and farm practices.

  • Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)

  • Focuses on Haryana, Punjab, and Western Uttar Pradesh (Original Green Revolution States).

  • Encourages farmers to shift from water-intensive paddy to pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, and nutri-cereals.

  • Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

  • Provides financial flexibility to states for state-specific agricultural needs.

  • Helps in promoting pulses cultivation through infrastructure development and farmer support.

  • Tur Dal Procurement Portal

  • A dedicated online portal was launched in January 2024 for farmers to register and sell tur directly to NAFED and NCCF, with plans to expand it for urad, masoor, and maize farmers.

  • Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR):

  • Established under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), conducts research on pulse crops, develops high-yield varieties, improves production technologies, and coordinates pulse research nationwide.

  • Originating from the All India Coordinated Pulses Improvement Project (AICPIP) in 1966, it became the Directorate of Pulses Research (DPR) in 1984 and was restructured as IIPR in 1993

  • Contributes to nutritional security, soil health improvement, and sustainable pulse production through research, technology transfer, and breeder seed production.

WAY FORWARD

• Improved Water Management: Promote efficient irrigation systems and water conservation methods to make pulse cultivation viable in water-scarce regions.
  
• Accelerated Breeding Research: Invest in developing high-yielding, short-duration, and machine-harvestable hybrids for tur/arhar and other pulses.
  
• Adjust Imports and Taxes Based on Harvest: The government should base import decisions and taxes on the domestic harvest, allowing for timely and effective responses to fluctuations in domestic production.
  Gradually reintroduce tariffs on pulses imports to protect domestic farmers and stabilise market prices.
  
• Targeted MSP Procurement Expansion: Extend effective procurement mechanisms to tur/arhar, urad, and masoor to ensure price support.
  
• Incentivising Pulses Cultivation: Provide financial and infrastructural support to shift farmers from water-intensive crops to pulses.
  
• Strengthening Post-Harvest Infrastructure:
  Enhance warehousing and cold storage to minimise post-harvest losses.
  Strengthen farmer producer organisations (FPOs) for better market access.
  
• International Trade Strategy: Establish long-term trade agreements to regulate import quantities and avoid supply shocks affecting domestic prices.
  
• Awareness Campaigns: Educate farmers on the long-term benefits of pulses, such as soil health improvements and the profitability of pulse intercropping

CONCLUSION

Conclusion Achieving near-aatmanirbharta in pulses requires a balanced approach of research-driven productivity gains, supportive policies, and strategic trade regulations. By addressing key challenges and ensuring fair price realisation for farmers, India can reduce its dependence on imports while strengthening food security.

PYQ MAPPING

Q) What do you mean by Minimum Support Price (MSP)? How will MSP rescue the farmers from the low income trap? (2018)

Q) What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification? (2021)

SAMPLE QUESTION

Q) Analyse the role of pulses in ensuring nutritional security in India. How can the government incentivise pulse production to reduce import dependence? (10 marks, 150 words)

Tags:
Polity

Keywords:
Pulse Production in India Pulses cropping patterns Crops Agriculture Nutrition MSP Minimum Support Price crop diversification Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses self-reliance tur arhar pigeonpea urad black gram masoor red lentil food security nitrogen fixation leguminous plants Moong Green Gram Urad Black Gram National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited NAFED Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan PM-AASHA National Food Securit