\u201c<\/p>\n
Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary and Shri Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Joint Secretary,
\nDepartment of Agriculture & Farmer\u2019s Welfare, Government of India<\/p>\n
Power pulse: India\u2019s big push for self-reliance in pulses empowering farmers
\nPulses are an integral part of India\u2019s food and farming traditions – providing
\nnutritional security to citizens and livelihoods for millions of farmers, which is an
\nenormous source of healthy and protein rich food.
\nOn October 11, 2025, the Hon\u2019ble Prime Minister launched the \u201cMission for
\nAatmanirbharta in Pulses\u201d to boost production and bring self-sufficiency in pulses by
\n2030-31, with an allocation of INR 11,440 crores. The Prime Minister remarked, \u201cThe
\nobjective of the \u201cMission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses is not just to increase the
\nproduction of pulses, but to make future generations strong by providing nutritious
\nfood.\u201d
\nThe mission focuses on ensuring availability of high yielding seeds and enhancing
\nfarmer\u2019s income alongside achieving nutritional security by maintaining steady
\nsupply of pulses.
\nPulses production challenges
\nPulses production in India declined during 2014\u20132016 crop years. In response to this
\ncritical situation, the Government of India has taken various measures to boost
\nproduction. As a result of these sustained efforts, pulses output revealed significant
\nincrease.
\nEven though, there is a steady increase in the domestic pulse production, the
\nconsumption of pulses continues to outpace supply, which leads to periodic imports.
\nBecoming self-reliant in pulse production seeks to bridge this gap, which has long
\nbeen a great challenge.
\nMostly grown under rainfed conditions, pulses get affected both by erratic rainfall and
\ndrought. Adding to the weather uncertainties are threats of pests and diseases, low
\nproductivity of pulses could be linked with its limited access to the improved seed
\nvarieties.
\nThe \u201cMission of Atmanirbharta in Pulses\u201d bears potential to transform India\u2019s
\nagricultural economy within a targeted period of five years. The mission will make
\npulse cultivation more profitable & dependable for farmers, while ensuring a
\nsustainable and protein-rich food source for the nation.
\nSeeding self-sufficiency in pulses
\nThe \u201cMission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses\u201d seeks to bridge the gap by adopting a
\ncomprehensive approach, from seeds to market, ultimately increasing production,
\nproductivity, and farmer income. The Mission will follow a cluster-based strategy with<\/p>\n
greater involvement of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and cooperatives to
\nensure effective implementation and wider outreach. Crop-specific clusters will be
\ndeveloped based on area and yield potential with targeted interventions.<\/p>\n
The Mission will develop high-yielding, climate-resilient seeds and heat tolerant
\nseeds with the help of ICAR and CGIAR Institutes. The mission will also focus on
\nscaling – up production and distribution of High-Yielding Variety (HYV) of pulses
\nthrough an efficient seed value chain. This would ensure farmers access to have
\nquality breeder, foundation, and certified seeds. Coupled with crop demonstrations
\nby ICAR institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and State Agriculture
\nDepartments, they will be exposed to improved farming practices. Potential
\nexpansion into targeted rice fallow, crop diversification and intercropping would
\nfacilitate to bring additional area under pulses cultivation.
\nThe big push
\nTo reduce post-harvest losses and help farmer get a better price, 1000 processing
\nunits will be set up across the country. Procurement facility for Tur, Urad, and Masoor
\nfrom all registered and interested farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP) will be
\nensured for the next four years. This is expected to bring confidence among farmers,
\nstabilize prices, and ensure steady incomes. Such a move could be a game changer
\nin pulse cultivation, encouraging more farmers to take up pulse cultivation and
\nexpand acreage. By ensuring both high production and fair returns, the mission will
\ninfuse confidence among pulse farmers and strengthen the nation\u2019s protein-base.
\nBy 2030\u201331, the mission aims to expand the area under pulses from 275 lakh
\nhectares in 2023\u201324 to 310 lakh hectares, increase production from 242 lakh tonnes
\nto 350 lakh tonnes, and increase yield levels from 881 kg\/ha to 1130 kg\/ha.
\nApproximately 2 crore farmers are expected to benefit directly from this mission.
\nBeyond production targets, the Mission envisages a shift toward sustainable and
\nclimate-resilient agriculture to promote pulses production, which will conserve water,
\nenrich soil health through nitrogen fixation, and reduce dependence on chemical
\nfertilizers.
\nFarm, field and future
\nBy linking the Mission with existing schemes like micro-irrigation, mechanization,
\ncrop insurance, and agricultural credit, the government aims to create synergy and
\nconvergence for long-term sustainability. Furthermore, processing, packaging, and
\nenhancing the entire pulses value chain will be assisted in this farming ecosystem.
\nThe Mission aligns with India\u2019s Vision 2047, which envisions a food-secure,
\nsustainable, and self-reliant agriculture sector. By providing farmers with better
\nseeds, assured markets and modern technology, the government underscores a
\nlong-term commitment, one that values both the farmer and the soil.
\nAs India moves closer to self-reliance in pulses, the Mission marks a turning point in
\nthe country\u2019s journey toward food and nutritional security. Ultimately, the \u201cMission for
\nAatmanirbharta in Pulses\u201d is more than an investment in crops, it is an investment in
\nconfidence: the confidence of farmers, to know that their produce has both value and
\na secured future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"