New Delhi: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday announced that the government aims to boost pulses production by 40 per cent to 350 lakh tonnes by the 2030–31 crop year.
The target will be achieved under a newly approved six-year central scheme titled ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’, which has a financial outlay of ₹11,440 crore and will run from 2025–26 to 2030–31.
Addressing a press conference, Chouhan said the government plans to raise pulses output by expanding the cultivation area and improving crop productivity. He expressed confidence that the ambitious goal would be met and assured that the government would take suitable decisions regarding import duties to protect the interests of farmers.
The minister said that 100 blocks with below-average productivity have been identified for focused interventions. “We are not yet self-sufficient in pulses,” Chouhan noted, adding that while India is the world’s largest producer, it is also the biggest consumer, and therefore continues to import large quantities to meet domestic demand.
Under the mission, the government targets to increase the pulses acreage from 275 lakh hectares to 310 lakh hectares, and raise production from 242 lakh tonnes in 2023–24 to 350 lakh tonnes by 2030–31. For the ongoing 2024–25 crop year (July–June), pulses production is estimated at 252.38 lakh tonnes.
Chouhan said the government plans to boost average productivity from 881 kg per hectare to 1,130 kg per hectare.
The mission, announced earlier by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget, will focus on enhancing the production of tur (pigeon pea), urad (black gram) and masur (lentil). Government agencies such as NAFED and NCCF will ensure assured procurement from registered farmers.
Chouhan added that the Centre will promote high-yielding and disease-tolerant seed varieties and ensure timely availability of quality seeds to farmers to strengthen the nation’s progress toward self-sufficiency in pulses.
