Tremendous increase in the production of pulses and oilseeds in Uttar Pradesh during the last 8 years
20-May-2025 04:00 PM
Lucknow. In the country's most prominent food grain producing state, Uttar Pradesh, there has been a tremendous increase in the production of pulses and oilseeds crops in recent years.
According to official data, during the last eight years, the total production of pulses in the state jumped almost two and a half times from 23.95 lakh tons to 59.19 lakh tons, and the production of oilseeds more than doubled from 12.40 lakh tons to 29.20 lakh tons.
With this, Uttar Pradesh has come very close to self-sufficiency in the production of pulses and oilseeds. The state government is making various efforts to increase the average yield and total output of these two categories of crops.
Uttar Pradesh is the most prominent producer of peas and the second-largest producer of lentils and mustard. In addition, there is also good production of pulses and oilseeds such as gram, tuvar, urad, moong, and groundnut.
The cultivation area under pulses and oilseeds is increasing regularly. The government has implemented several incentive measures that are drawing farmers towards the cultivation of these crops.
High-yielding seeds of pulses like urad, arhar (tuvar), moong, and gram are being distributed free of cost to farmers in the state. A stock of 46.33 lakh mini kits is maintained, and producers are trained through Kisan Pathshalas.
Agricultural fairs are organized in different parts of the state, and farmers are taught the method of growing pulses alongside sugarcane crops. This intercropping method is proving to be very effective and is boosting farmers' incomes.
The Agriculture Department is promoting the adoption of modern farming techniques. Along with a focus on drip irrigation, farmers are also being advised to plant pulses and oilseeds near ridges or along the edges of fields.
In Uttar Pradesh, a target has been set to increase the production area of pulses to 28.84 lakh hectares and that of oilseeds to 22.63 lakh hectares by the 2026-27 season to ensure better supply and availability from indigenous sources.