The challenge of self-sufficiency in pulses

08-Feb-2025 12:40 PM

The challenge of achieving self-sufficiency in pulses production in India is multifaceted. Despite being the largest producer of pulses globally, India is heavily reliant on imports to meet its domestic consumption demands.

This dependency, particularly when imports reach record levels, strains the national economy, as large sums of money are spent on purchasing pulses from other countries.

The fluctuations in pulse production, often linked to unpredictable weather patterns and agricultural challenges, have worsened the imbalance between supply and demand.

As a result, the country continues to depend on imports, even as the government sets ambitious targets, such as achieving complete self-sufficiency in pulses production by 2027 and halting imports by 2028.

The situation has become even more pressing in recent years. In 2024, India imported a record 66.3 lakh tonnes of pulses. While the government is committed to improving domestic production, the importation of tur (pigeon peas) has been allowed duty-free until March 2026,

with the possibility of extending this policy for other pulses like urad (black gram). These ongoing imports show how challenging it will be to eliminate the dependency entirely.

In response to this challenge, the government launched the Pulses Mission with a funding allocation of Rs 1,000 crore in the Union Budget.

This initiative aims to boost pulse production, but for it to be successful, it needs to address critical factors such as improving yields. India's average yield is significantly lower than that of other major producing countries, which limits overall production.

To rectify this, developing new high-yielding varieties of pulses, which are resilient to adverse weather conditions, is essential.

Special focus should be placed on key pulse-producing states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat, where productivity can be increased.

While the six-year Pulses Mission offers hope, the true measure of success will depend on how effectively these goals are met and whether the domestic production can be scaled up in a sustainable and efficient manner.