How India is building self-reliance in pulses

The Union government is crafting a scheme to boost domestic production of pulses with a focus on select states, at a time when erratic weather and more remunerative crops have prompted many farmers to shift away from the kitchen staples. “The government believes that pulses’ growers are fully capable of replicating the production reported in 2016-17 for tur and further increasing the production of masur, given that they are adequately supported with the assured purchase of crops at MSP or market rate, whichever is higher, and assured risk mitigation in case of crop damages due to weather conditions through the Fasal Bima Yojana. At present, under the PSS, the agriculture ministry procures crops at MSP to support farmers when prices fall, whereas under PSF, the Department of Consumer Affairs purchases pulses and vegetables at the MSP or market price for buffer stocks for later use in market interventions. According to agriculture ministry data, India produced 3.3 mt of tur and 1.5 mt of masur in the last season ended June, against the previous year’s 4.2 mt and 1.3 mt, respectively. The next year may be worse: In the first advance estimate for the 2023-24 crop year, the production of total kharif pulses is pegged lower at 7.1 mt compared with the previous year’s 7.8 mt due to unfavourable climatic conditions and farmers switching to crops such as cotton and soybean, which are more remunerative and have shorter gestation periods.