Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses
Finance Minister has launched a six-year initiative aimed at achieving self-reliance in pulse production, specifically focusing on tur/arhar (pigeonpea), urad (black gram), and masoor (red lentil).
- The Union Budget for 2025-26 has allocated Rs 1,000 crore for the scheme.
- The initiative will provide MSP-based procurement and post-harvest warehousing solutions.
- NAFED and NCCF are the agencies designated to procure the pulses from registered farmers.
Current Scenario and Challenges
Despite efforts towards self-reliance, India's pulse imports have seen a significant rise due to various factors.
- In April-November 2024, pulse imports were valued at $3.28 billion, a 56.6% increase from the previous year.
- The total imports for the fiscal year 2024-25 could potentially reach $5.9 billion.
Historical Trends in Pulse Imports
India's pulse imports showed varied trends over the years:
- Between 2013-14 and 2016-17, imports rose from $1.83 billion to $4.24 billion.
- Imports declined substantially post-2017, achieving relative self-reliance.
- However, the trend reversed in 2023-24 due to drought, with imports reaching $3.75 billion.
Domestic Production and Improvements
Domestic production of pulses has increased due to advancements in crop varieties:
- Production rose from 192.55 lt in 2013-14 to 273.02 lt in 2021-22.
- New short-duration varieties of chana and moong have been developed.
- MSP procurement efforts have seen success, especially with chana and moong.
Challenges and Policy Ambiguities
The goal of self-reliance still faces challenges:
- Tur/arhar crops still have limitations due to long cultivation durations and lower yields.
- Policy ambiguity regarding import duties and farmer incentives poses challenges.
Future Prospects
The government is considering strategies to restore import duties to incentivize local production, especially as domestic production is expected to rebound post-drought.