The goal of self-sufficiency in pulses remains elusive
11-Oct-2025 02:51 PM
Although the central government has repeatedly promised and claimed to make every effort to make the country self-sufficient in pulse production, and has even formulated some promising plans and strategies, no meaningful results have yet been achieved.
On the one hand, the area under cultivation for pulses is declining, and annual production has stagnated within a certain range.
On the other hand, increasing domestic demand and consumption is leading to a significant increase in pulse imports from abroad.
During the last financial year, pulse imports jumped sharply to an all-time high of 7.34 million tons. However, the decline in pulse imports in the current financial year, 2025-26, makes achieving the goal of self-sufficiency in pulse production doubtful in the near future.
Imports of pigeon pea, black gram, and yellow peas have been made duty-free until March 31, 2026, while imports of Indian gram and lentils have only been subjected to a 10% customs duty.
The Union Agriculture Ministry and NITI Aayog repeatedly emphasize the need to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses, but sometimes high market prices make imports cheaper, and sometimes farmers are unable to receive attractive or profitable prices for their produce.
Over the past four years, a sharp decline of approximately 3.1 million hectares has been recorded in the area under pulses cultivation. This clearly indicates that Indian farmers' enthusiasm and interest in pulse cultivation is rapidly declining. This situation urgently needs to be reversed.
Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the Mission for Self-Sufficiency in Pulses. Under this mission, the target is to increase the area under pulses cultivation from the current level of 27.5 million hectares to 31 million hectares by 2030-31.
Similarly, the target is to increase the average yield of pulses to 1,130 kilograms per hectare and the total production to 35 million tons. A sum of ₹11,440 crore has been approved for the Pulses Mission, and it is said to focus on 416 districts across the country. This has raised some hope, but the final outcome will depend on the mission's success.