It is difficult to achieve the target of self-sufficiency in pulses by the year 2027

02-Aug-2024 04:30 PM

New Delhi. The central government has set the target of achieving self-sufficiency in the production of pulses by the year 2027 and completely stopping its import from the year 2028,

but it will not be easy to achieve it. There is no doubt that India is the largest producer of pulses in the world, but at the same time it is also true that the consumption of pulses is also the highest here and it is continuously increasing.

As a result, the country has to import a huge amount of pulses from abroad. The government has exempted five major pulses from import duty. During the last financial year,

the import of pulses in the country increased to more than 45 lakh tonnes, on which a huge amount was spent.

Industry-trade analysts say that the gap between the demand and supply of pulses has increased so much that it is very difficult to bridge it in the near future. For this, the government will have to make serious efforts on many fronts.

The challenge of climate change and increasing population is also serious. India needs to formulate a promotional and long-term policy to ensure a continuous increase in the production of pulses.

The domestic production of pulses has been witnessing huge fluctuations for the last decade, while demand and consumption are continuously increasing.

The production of pulses is being affected due to many reasons, which need to be removed. Pulses are sown in a large area in the country, but its average yield rate is very low.

It is necessary to develop and use new improved and high yielding pulse seeds. It is important for the producers to get a profitable price for pulses so that their enthusiasm and attraction towards its cultivation can remain intact.

The government is identifying such districts in non-traditional production areas where commercial cultivation of especially tur and urad is possible. But all these efforts will take time.