Parliament Question: Production of Pulses

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4231 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19TH AUGUST, 2025 PRODUCTION OF PULSES 4231. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL: Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be pleased to state; (a) the data on the production of pulses in the country including targets set and achieved during the last five years, State-wise; (b) the specific initiatives and policies introduced to boost pulses production including budget allocations and implementation timelines in the country, State-wise particularly in Bihar; (c) the impact of these initiatives on farmers’ income and food security, supported by relevant statistics; (d) the regional distribution of increased pulses production and measures taken to ensure equitable benefits across different States; and (e) the future plans and targets set for pulses production, including measures taken to prioritise extending credit facilities to pulse producers? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) to (e): The details of State-wise production of pulses in the country including targets during the last five years are given at Annexure I. In order to increase the production of pulses in the country, including Bihar, the Government is implementing National Food Security and Nutrition Mission-Pulses (NFSNM-Pulses) in all the 28 States and the 2 Union Territories (UTs) viz. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, with the objective to increase pulses production through area expansion and productivity enhancement. Under NFSNM-Pulses, the assistance is provided to the farmers, through the States/UTs, on crop production and protection technologies, cropping system-based demonstrations, production & distribution of certified seeds of newly released varieties/hybrids, integrated nutrient and pest management techniques, capacity building of farmers through trainings during cropping season, etc. In addition, Government of India also provides flexibility to the States for State-specific needs under the Pradhan Mantri-Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM- RKVY). The State-wise allocation of funds under NFSNM-Pulses during the last 3 years is given at Annexure-II. During 2024-25, a new focused approach under Cluster Frontline Demonstrations (CFLDs) of pulses is being implemented through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Further, minikits of pulse seed varieties not older than 10 years are distributed free of cost to the farmers and 150 Seed Hubs on pulses have been set up under NFSNM to augment the availability of quality seeds of pulses to farmersthrough ICAR. Assistance is also given for certified seed production through central seed agencies and seed hubs. Government of India also provides flexibility to the States for State- specific needs under Pradhan Mantri-Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY). Further, the ICAR is undertaking basic and strategic research on pulses crops at the ICAR- Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur and its four regional stations at Bhopal, Dharwad, Bikaner and Khordha. The ICAR is also undertaking applied research through All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Kharif and Rabi Pulses in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities for developing location-specific high-yielding varieties and matching production technology packages to enhance productivity potential and overall production of pulses to meet their demand in the country. As a result, 437 high-yielding varieties/hybrids of different pulses have been notified for commercial cultivation in the country during 2014-2024. The Government has made concerted efforts and has succeeded in achieving near self- sufficiency in pulses. Farmers have responded to the need by increasing the cultivated area by 50 per cent and the Government has arranged for procurement of the produce at remunerative prices. The Government maintains buffer stock of major pulses such as Tur, Urad, Chana, Moong and Masur under Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) for appropriate market interventions to arrest the price volatility in pulses and to make pulses available to the consumers at affordable prices. Pulses are procured and stored for regulated release to help contain prices for ensuring welfare of the consumers. The Government also supplies pulses to States/UTs for their welfare schemes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) to meet the requirement for welfare and nutrition programmes. The Government maintains the buffer stocks of major pulses such as Tur, Urad, Chana, Moong, Masur, etc. under PSF. To make dals available to consumers at affordable prices, Bharat Dal was launched in July, 2023 by converting Chana stock in the PSF into Chana dal for disposal through the retail channel. The Bharat Dals are being distributed through own retail outlets and mobile vans of NCCF, NAFED and Kendriya Bhandar, outlets of big chain retailers and e-commerce platforms to reach maximum number of consumers. In the Union Budget 2025-26, the Government has announced launch of a 6-year “Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses” with a special focus on Tur, Urad and Masoor. The Mission will place emphasis on development and commercial availability of climate-resilient seeds; enhancing protein content; increasing productivity; improving post-harvest storage and management and assuring remunerative prices to the farmers. Central agencies (viz. NAFED and NCCF) will be ready to procure these 3 pulses, as much as offered during the next 4 years, from farmers who register with these agencies and enter into agreements. To provide credit facilities to farmers, including pulse producers, the Government is implementing Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), which provides short-term agricultural loans at concessional interest rates through Kisan Credit Cards (KCC). Under this scheme, farmers including tenant farmers receive KCC loans at a subsidized interest rate of 7%. To facilitate this, an upfront interest subvention (IS) of 1.5% is provided to financial institutions. Additionally, farmers who repay their KCC loans promptly, receive a 3% Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI); effectively reducing the interest rate to 4% per annum. Further, the Public Sector Banks are developing ‘Grameen Credit Score’ framework to serve the credit needs of Self Help Group (SHG) members and people in rural areas.Annexure I State-Wise Production and Target of Total Pulses Source: DA&FW Production in Lakh Tonnes Target in Lakh Tonnes State 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25* 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Andhra Pradesh 10.95 10.54 10.76 8.23 9.59 13.05 10.39 12.99 13.03 11.95 Assam 1.09 1.11 1.11 1.68 1.27 1.23 1.22 1.17 1.13 1.08 Bihar 3.77 3.88 4.14 3.99 4.01 4.81 3.72 5.05 4.64 6.08 Chhattisgarh 4.48 3.87 4.75 3.65 4.51 5.76 6.63 8.69 7.65 6.53 Gujarat 18.09 27.01 17.93 15.47 19.36 8.73 13.17 16.63 19.11 20.01 Haryana 0.73 1.06 0.80 0.37 0.78 1.11 1.19 1.79 1.88 2.07 Himachal Pradesh 0.60 0.75 0.49 0.49 0.45 0.67 0.75 0.76 0.91 0.74 Jharkhand 9.05 8.98 7.61 7.64 9.68 8.26 8.68 9.80 7.95 7.93 Karnataka 20.65 19.72 17.57 16.69 18.88 21.68 18.69 22.59 23.29 22.42 Madhya Pradesh 52.95 56.95 62.67 59.74 54.09 74.41 48.91 71.54 69.29 76.19 Maharashtra 43.21 50.24 46.35 40.08 50.35 35.28 42.85 47.07 48.67 48.77 Odisha 4.31 4.81 4.95 5.47 3.02 4.57 5.22 5.40 5.45 5.89 Punjab 0.31 0.76 0.33 0.69 0.64 0.40 0.68 0.80 0.66 0.47 Rajasthan 42.52 40.53 36.17 33.35 38.75 38.50 43.31 47.34 43.67 41.93 Tamil Nadu 4.72 4.99 5.03 3.86 3.70 5.42 5.84 6.90 5.11 4.20 Telangana 5.90 5.76 4.97 3.61 3.83 5.54 5.99 6.87 6.80 7.17 Uttarakhand 0.61 0.64 0.62 0.52 0.48 0.73 0.78 0.72 0.76 0.82 Uttar Pradesh 24.76 26.20 28.43 31.15 23.32 20.35 21.68 24.69 26.67 28.14 West Bengal 4.42 3.90 4.51 4.33 4.25 3.58 4.01 3.19 3.93 4.28 Others 1.51 1.32 1.39 1.45 1.42 1.92 6.29 1.51 1.90 2.33 All India 254.63 273.02 260.58 242.46 252.38 256.00 250.00 295.50 292.50 299.00 *Production Data for the year 2024-25 is of 3ʳᵈ Advance EstimatesAnnexure II The State-wise Allocation of fund under NFSNM-Pulses during last 3 years (2022-23 to 2024-25) is as under: (Rs. in crore) S. No. State/Uts 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 1 Andhra Pradesh 20.94 26.30 29.07 2 Arunachal Pradesh 1.22 1.35 1.70 3 Assam 72.61 82.82 82.86 4 Bihar 24.54 23.26 59.60 5 Chhattisgarh 67.68 33.00 61.83 6 Goa 0.09 0.06 0.09 7 Gujarat 13.02 11.57 16.07 8 Haryana 4.30 5.35 5.89 9 Himachal Pradesh 1.73 2.43 1.93 10 UT of J & K 1.81 1.53 2.70 11 Jharkhand 20.19 28.77 28.77 12 Karnataka 83.09 97.18 116.00 13 Kerala 0.09 0.11 0.11 14 UT of Ladakh 0.07 0.09 0.09 15 Madhya Pradesh 153.02 223.70 224.87 16 Maharashtra 68.76 103.79 100.69 17 Manipur 4.02 4.95 6.77 18 Meghalaya 0.54 0.68 0.68 19 Mizoram 0.58 0.77 0.86 20 Nagaland 3.96 6.77 6.77 21 Odisha 37.72 40.02 80.35 22 Punjab 1.15 1.43 1.79 23 Rajasthan 144.54 186.98 192.16 24 Sikkim 1.09 1.83 1.52 25 Tamil Nadu 31.09 23.02 23.24 26 Telangana 9.53 11.85 11.85 27 Tripura 1.45 1.80 1.52 28 Uttar Pradesh 47.69 60.63 60.63 29 Uttarakhand 4.40 5.48 5.48 30 West Bengal 33.37 38.56 40.26 States/UTs Total 854.28 1026.08 1166.14 Source: DA&FW ******