NITI Aayog Proposes Strategies to Boost Pulses Production

Quick Summary

• NITI Aayog has released a report titled “Strategies and pathways for Accelerating Growth in Pulses towards the Goal of Atmanirbharta.”
• The report highlights the importance of pulses in ensuring food security, nutritional well-being, enduring agriculture, and environmental benefits.
• India is the largest global producer, consumer, and importer of pulses. In recent years (2015-2023), production increased by 59.4%, reaching 26.06 million tonnes (MT), reducing import dependency from 29% to 10.4%.
• The Government launched a six-year initiative called “Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses,” focusing on pigeonpea, black gram, and lentil to further boost self-reliance.
• Pulse production is regionally concentrated-Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan contribute about 55% of total production; ten states make up over 91% of output.
• Key recommendations include technological customisation based on agro-climatic zones, focus on high-yielding varieties in targeted districts contributing to national output (~75%), seed distribution via cluster hubs managed by farmer-producer organisations (“One Block-One Seed Village”), among others.
• Domestic supply is projected to reach 30.59 MT by 2030 and rise sharply to 45.79 MT by 2047.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The strides made in India’s pulse sector are commendable as it pivots toward long-term self-sufficiency under the Atmanirbharta mission framework. Wiht its heavy reliance on rain-fed areas while supporting over five crore farmers’ livelihoods nationwide, initiatives targeting productivity gaps through tailored strategies could have transformative effects not just economically but also nutritionally at both individual and national levels.However significant challenges persist: concentrated regional output coupled with climatic dependencies highlights systemic vulnerabilities requiring continuous policy intervention across resource distribution/equity-based mechanisms over regions less traditional during rabi or kharif ‘expansionary scaling.’

Scoping implemented frameworks roadmap seems progressive combats possible supply disruptions but…clerances tests forward.action-clear>