Highlights from IPGA’s 7th Pulses Conclave 2025

13-Feb-2025 11:52 AM

Highlights from IPGA’s 7th Pulses Conclave 2025
According to Prahlad Joshi, Minister of Consumer Affairs
★ This year's theme of the Pulses Conclave 2025, set by IPGA, is "Pulses for Prosperity."
★ Pulses play a crucial role in providing protein.
★ The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of providing more protein/nutrition under the National Food Security scheme.
★ Under the Public Distribution System (PDS), rice, wheat, and other grains are distributed to citizens.
★ India's pulse consumption stands at 28-29 million tons, with 2-3 million tons imported to meet the demand.
★ Pulse production 10 years ago was 11.7 million tons, but by 2024, it increased to 25-26 million tons. The distribution is as follows: Chana (45-46%), Tur (14-15%), Moong (13%), Urad (9.5%), Masoor (6.5%), and other pulses (10-11%).
★ Due to El Niño, pulse production in 2024 declined, causing a rise in prices. The government intervened to control the prices.
★ Price monitoring is carried out through 555 centers across the country.
★ In the past two years, food inflation has been at its lowest in 2 years.
★ Under PM Asha, a budget of Rs. 35,000 crore has been allocated for 2025-26, which includes the PSS and PSF schemes.
★ The government has promised to purchase the full harvest of tur, urad, and masoor for the 2024-25 season, which will be procured by Nafed and NCCF.
★ Central pool stocks for pulses stand at 15.38 lakh tons, with 9.01 lakh tons under PSF and 6.3 lakh tons under PSS.
★ The government has extended the import of urad until March 31, 2025, and the import of tur until March 31, 2026. The import period for chana will be reviewed after March 31, 2025, based on production and prices.
★ Pulses were sold under the India Brand in retail, which impacted prices.
★ The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) will encourage converting areas of rice, oilseeds, and other crops into pulses cultivation.
★ High-yield varieties of seeds are becoming available.
★ After 2018-19, the government increased the MSP (Minimum Support Price) for pulses according to the Swaminathan Report.
★ Rs.1,000 crore has been allocated to increase pulse production and achieve self-sufficiency.
★ The government has made multiple changes to import regulations and imposed stock limits to control pulse prices.
★ The minister thanked IPGA, stating that events like these increase awareness about pulses.