Centre Targets 40% Rise In Pulses Output By 2030
NEW DELHI: With the aim of achieving self-sufficiency in pulses production, Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday announced that the government aims to increase pulses production by 40 per cent to 350 lakh tonnes by the 2030-31 crop year.
The ‘Aatmanirbharta Mission in Pulses’, approved by the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 1, will be implemented from 2025-26 to 2030-31 with a financial outlay of ₹ 11,440 crore. The mission aims to increase domestic production and reduce India’s dependence on imports.
Chouhan said the government will expand the area under cultivation and increase crop productivity to achieve the target. “By 2030-31, pulses acreage will increase from 275 lakh hectares currently to 310 lakh hectares and production will increase from 242 lakh tonnes to 350 lakh tonnes in 2023-24,” he said. Pulses production for 2024-25 is estimated at 252.38 lakh tonnes.
He added that productivity will be increased from the current average of 881 kg per hectare to 1,130 kg by using high-yielding and disease-resistant seed varieties. The government will also ensure timely supply of seeds to farmers.
Chouhan said the Center has identified 100 low-yield blocks for focused development and will take appropriate decisions on import duties to protect farmers’ interests. “India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of pulses, but still we are not self-sufficient,” he said.
To strengthen markets and value chains, the mission will support the establishment of 1,000 post-harvest processing units, helping reduce crop losses, increase value addition and increase farmer incomes, the minister said. A maximum subsidy of ₹25 lakh will be available for setting up processing and packaging units.
The mission is expected to promote climate-resilient farming practices, improve soil health and ensure efficient use of fallow land, thereby taking India closer to full self-sufficiency in pulses, preserving foreign exchange and improving farmer welfare.
