Strong base required for self-sufficiency in pulses production

01-Apr-2025 04:53 PM

🇮🇳 Can India Achieve Self-Sufficiency in Pulses by 2027?

📍 New Delhi: The government had set an ambitious target of making India self-sufficient in pulses production by 2027. However, the import of pulses surged to a record high in 2024, raising concerns about meeting this goal.

📉 Declining Domestic Pulses Production

🔸 Estimated production (2024-25): 📉 230 lakh tonnes (↓15% from 2021-22)
🔸 Record production (2021-22): 273 lakh tonnes
🔸 Total sowing area dropped from 307 lakh hectares (2021-22) to 255 lakh hectares (2024-25) (↓17%)

📊 Key Trends in Pulses Sowing Area (2024-25 vs. 2021-22)

📉 Urad: ↓41% (46 lakh hectares → 27 lakh hectares)
📉 Overall decline in pulses acreage despite MSP hikes
📈 Tur: ↑1.6% | Gram: ↑3.7% | Moong: ↑7% (compared to 2023-24)

🌍 Surging Pulses Imports

🔹 April-Dec 2024 imports: 48.60 lakh tonnes (↑78% from 28 lakh tonnes in 2023)
🔹 Govt extends duty-free import of Tur & Urad till March 31, 2026
🔹 Desi Chana & Masoor import duty remains low at 10-11%

⚠️ Challenges to Self-Sufficiency

🚜 Delayed & limited government procurement at MSP
🌾 Farmers shifting to other crops due to better profitability
📦 Rising import dependence despite policy support