Parliament Question: Improvements in productivity of pulses and oilseeds

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 373 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27/03/2026 IMPROVEMENT IN PRODUCTIVITY OF PULSES AND OILSEEDS 373. SHRI KAPIL SIBAL: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) the details of improvement in productivity in pulses and oilseeds under the ongoing self- sufficiency mission, till date; (b) the extent to which climate-resilient seed varieties have been adopted by farmers in 2025; and (c) the steps taken to ensure remunerative prices and reduce post-harvest losses in light of recent Budget priorities? ANSWER MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN) (a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the HouseSTATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) OF THE RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NUMBER 373 FOR 27/03/2026 REGARDING IMPROVEMENT IN PRODUCTIVITY OF PULSES AND OILSEEDS (a): In order to increase the domestic production of Oilseeds and Pulses and achieve self- sufficiency in these crops, the Union Cabinet has approved Centrally Sponsored Schemes namely, National Mission on Edible Oil – Oilseeds (NMEO-OS) on 3rd October, 2024 and ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’ on 1st October, 2025, respectively. The budget outlay approved is Rs. 10,103.38 crore for a period of 7 years from 2024-25 to 2030-31 under Oilseed Mission and Rs. 11,440 crore for a period of 6 years from 2025-26 to 2030-31 under Pulses Mission. During the last two years, productivity of oilseeds has increased from 1,368 Kg/ha in 2022-23 to 1,412 Kg/ha in 2024-25. Similarly, the productivity of pulses has increased from 902 Kg/ha to 926 Kg/ha during the same period. Under these Missions, to increase the production and productivity of Oilseeds and Pulses across the country, the assistance is given to farmers through State/UT through various interventions such as demonstrations of latest crop varieties and protection technologies, distribution of high yielding seed varieties, Cluster Frontline Demonstrations (CFLDs), support for post-harvest and processing infrastructures, capacity building of farmers etc. In addition, to ensure availability of quality foundation seeds including climate resilient varieties, the 100% support is given for purchase of breeder seeds for both oilseeds and pulses. (b): Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is undertaking various strategic research on Oilseeds and Pulses crops at ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR), Hyderabad and at ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), Kanpur, respectively for developing high yielding and climate resilient varieties. The ICAR is also undertaking All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP) in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities/research institutes for developing location-specific high yielding varieties and suitable production technology packages to enhance productivity potential and production of Oilseeds and Pulses. During the last eleven years (2014-2025), a total of 917 High Yielding Climate Resilient Varieties have been notified which includes 444 varieties of Oilseeds and 473 varieties of Pulses. Out of these, 317 varieties of oilseeds (71%) and 362 varieties of pulses (77%) are in the seed chain and are being cultivated by farmers across the country. (c): Government of India is implementing Price Support Scheme (PSS) under Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) for procurement of pulses and oilseeds at Minimum Support Price (MSP) across the country. PSS is implemented for procurement of pulses and oilseeds at MSP from willing and registered farmers to provide remunerative price to them as per requisitions made by the States. During the last eleven years, the percentage of increase in MSP for different pulses crops ranges from 78 to 118 percent and for different oilseeds crops from 82 to 165 percent in the country. Details of crop wise MSP for oilseeds and pulses during 2014-15 and 2025-26 are at Annexure-I. Similarly, since 2014-15, a total 157.31 lakh tonnes of oilseeds and 197.11 lakh tonnes of pulses were procured in order to provide remunerative prices to farmers. Further, under Pulses Mission, to strengthen post-harvest infrastructure, 528 processing units have been allotted to different States and Union Territories. Similarly, under the Oilseeds Mission, financial support is being provided to set up post-harvest infrastructure (Oil mills) to strengthen the collection, extraction and processing of primary oilseeds and secondary sources such as rice bran, cotton seeds and tree-borne oils. Under Oilseeds Mission, 348 oil extraction units have been sanctioned to various States.Annexure-I Details of crop wise MSP for oilseeds and pulses during 2014-15 and 2025-26 is as under:- (MSP in Rs./Qtl.) Oilseeds 2014-15 2025-26 Groundnut 4000 7263 Nigerseed 3600 9537 Rapeseed/ mustard 3100 5950 Safflower 3050 5940 Sesamum 4600 9846 Soyabean Yellow 2560 5328 Sunflower Seed 3750 7721 (MSP in Rs./Qtl.) Pulses 2014-15 2025-26 Gram 3175 5650 Lentil (Masoor) 3075 6700 Moong 4600 8768 Tur (Arhar) 4350 8000 Urad 4350 7800 ******