The Government of India has taken several steps/initiatives to make the country self-sufficient in the production of pulses. The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing the National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Pulses in 28 States and 2 Union Territories (Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh) with the objective to increase production of pulses through area expansion and productivity enhancement. Under NFSM-Pulses, assistance is given through States/UTs to the farmers for interventions like cluster demonstrations on improved package of practices, demonstrations on cropping system, seed production and distribution of high yielding varieties, improved farm machineries/resource conservation machineries/tools, efficient water application tools, plant protection measures, nutrient management/soil ameliorants, processing & post-harvest equipment, cropping system based trainings etc. In addition, the certified seeds of high yielding varieties of pulses are provided in the form of seed minikits at free of cost to the farmers. The Mission also provided support to Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) & State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) / Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) for technology back stopping and transfer of technology to the farmer under supervision of Subject Matter Specialists/Scientists. 150 seed hubs on pulses have been set up under NFSM to augment the availability of quality seed of pulses.
Government of India also provides flexibility to the states for state specific needs/priorities under Rashtirya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). The states can promote pulses under RKVY with approval of State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) headed by Chief Secretary of the State.
The Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for pulses have also been increased over the years to encourage the farmers to grow more pulses by ensuring remunerative prices.
In order to increase the productivity potential of pulses crops in the country, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) undertakes basic and strategic research on these crops and applied research in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities for developing location specific high yielding varieties and matching production packages.
During the last five years (2018-19 to 2022-23), total pulses production has increased by 18%. Based on the production estimates for the year 2022-23, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan are the top three pulses producing states in the country.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Arjun Munda in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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