Many steps will be taken to increase the domestic production of pulses

26-Jun-2024 02:08 PM

New Delhi. At the beginning of the current year, the Union Cooperation Minister had emphasized that by the year 2027,

India will become completely self-sufficient in the matter of pulses and from the year 2028, not even a single kg of pulses will be imported from abroad.

It is noteworthy that the import of pulses was between 25-26 lakh tonnes in the financial year 2022-23,

which jumped to above 40 lakh tonnes in the financial year 2023-24 (April-March). A huge amount of money was spent on this and the pressure on the national economy also increased.

In the agenda of the first 100 days of his third term, the Prime Minister has emphasized the need to increase the production of pulses and oilseed crops in the country as India still remains the largest importer of pulses and edible oils. In his last budget speech,

the Union Finance Minister had announced a new policy for promoting the production of oilseed crops like mustard,

soybean, groundnut, sesame and sunflower. Now the government is moving ahead with the resolve to increase the production of pulses.

In some states, it has been said that farmers should be encouraged to increase the scope of cultivation of pulses in new areas while maintaining the traditional area.

Under this, cultivation of pulse crops should be started especially in the fields vacated after the harvesting of paddy. Pulses are imported to India from Canada, Australia, Myanmar and African countries.

The government has increased the support price of tur to Rs 7750 per quintal, support price of urad to Rs 7400 per quintal and support price of moong to Rs 8682 per quintal for the season 2024-25.