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Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary and Shri Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Joint Secretary,
Department of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare, Government of India
Power pulse: India’s big push for self-reliance in pulses empowering farmers
Pulses are an integral part of India’s food and farming traditions – providing
nutritional security to citizens and livelihoods for millions of farmers, which is an
enormous source of healthy and protein rich food.
On October 11, 2025, the Hon’ble Prime Minister launched the “Mission for
Aatmanirbharta in Pulses” to boost production and bring self-sufficiency in pulses by
2030-31, with an allocation of INR 11,440 crores. The Prime Minister remarked, “The
objective of the “Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses is not just to increase the
production of pulses, but to make future generations strong by providing nutritious
food.”
The mission focuses on ensuring availability of high yielding seeds and enhancing
farmer’s income alongside achieving nutritional security by maintaining steady
supply of pulses.
Pulses production challenges
Pulses production in India declined during 2014–2016 crop years. In response to this
critical situation, the Government of India has taken various measures to boost
production. As a result of these sustained efforts, pulses output revealed significant
increase.
Even though, there is a steady increase in the domestic pulse production, the
consumption of pulses continues to outpace supply, which leads to periodic imports.
Becoming self-reliant in pulse production seeks to bridge this gap, which has long
been a great challenge.
Mostly grown under rainfed conditions, pulses get affected both by erratic rainfall and
drought. Adding to the weather uncertainties are threats of pests and diseases, low
productivity of pulses could be linked with its limited access to the improved seed
varieties.
The “Mission of Atmanirbharta in Pulses” bears potential to transform India’s
agricultural economy within a targeted period of five years. The mission will make
pulse cultivation more profitable & dependable for farmers, while ensuring a
sustainable and protein-rich food source for the nation.
Seeding self-sufficiency in pulses
The “Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses” seeks to bridge the gap by adopting a
comprehensive approach, from seeds to market, ultimately increasing production,
productivity, and farmer income. The Mission will follow a cluster-based strategy with
greater involvement of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and cooperatives to
ensure effective implementation and wider outreach. Crop-specific clusters will be
developed based on area and yield potential with targeted interventions.
The Mission will develop high-yielding, climate-resilient seeds and heat tolerant
seeds with the help of ICAR and CGIAR Institutes. The mission will also focus on
scaling – up production and distribution of High-Yielding Variety (HYV) of pulses
through an efficient seed value chain. This would ensure farmers access to have
quality breeder, foundation, and certified seeds. Coupled with crop demonstrations
by ICAR institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and State Agriculture
Departments, they will be exposed to improved farming practices. Potential
expansion into targeted rice fallow, crop diversification and intercropping would
facilitate to bring additional area under pulses cultivation.
The big push
To reduce post-harvest losses and help farmer get a better price, 1000 processing
units will be set up across the country. Procurement facility for Tur, Urad, and Masoor
from all registered and interested farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP) will be
ensured for the next four years. This is expected to bring confidence among farmers,
stabilize prices, and ensure steady incomes. Such a move could be a game changer
in pulse cultivation, encouraging more farmers to take up pulse cultivation and
expand acreage. By ensuring both high production and fair returns, the mission will
infuse confidence among pulse farmers and strengthen the nation’s protein-base.
By 2030–31, the mission aims to expand the area under pulses from 275 lakh
hectares in 2023–24 to 310 lakh hectares, increase production from 242 lakh tonnes
to 350 lakh tonnes, and increase yield levels from 881 kg/ha to 1130 kg/ha.
Approximately 2 crore farmers are expected to benefit directly from this mission.
Beyond production targets, the Mission envisages a shift toward sustainable and
climate-resilient agriculture to promote pulses production, which will conserve water,
enrich soil health through nitrogen fixation, and reduce dependence on chemical
fertilizers.
Farm, field and future
By linking the Mission with existing schemes like micro-irrigation, mechanization,
crop insurance, and agricultural credit, the government aims to create synergy and
convergence for long-term sustainability. Furthermore, processing, packaging, and
enhancing the entire pulses value chain will be assisted in this farming ecosystem.
The Mission aligns with India’s Vision 2047, which envisions a food-secure,
sustainable, and self-reliant agriculture sector. By providing farmers with better
seeds, assured markets and modern technology, the government underscores a
long-term commitment, one that values both the farmer and the soil.
As India moves closer to self-reliance in pulses, the Mission marks a turning point in
the country’s journey toward food and nutritional security. Ultimately, the “Mission for
Aatmanirbharta in Pulses” is more than an investment in crops, it is an investment in
confidence: the confidence of farmers, to know that their produce has both value and
a secured future.
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