Why in News?

In response to surging pulse imports and rising domestic demand, the Department of Consumer Affairs, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has initiated a targeted programme.

This programme aims to promote arhar (tur) and urad cultivation across several Indian states during the Kharif season 2025.  This is part of a broader food security and import reduction strategy.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Key Highlights and Government Initiatives
• Pulse Production and Trade Trends
• Policy Support for Pulse Cultivation

Key Highlights and Government Initiatives:

• Launch of pulse cultivation campaign:
  • Aim: The Department of Consumer Affairs will promote arhar and urad cultivation through seed distribution campaigns.
  • Implementation: By the National Cooperative Consumer’s Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF).
  • Extent: The campaign is extended from a successful pilot in two Jharkhand districts to 12 districts across seven states -
    • Jharkhand: Palamu, Latehar, Garhwa
    • Uttar Pradesh: Mirzapur, Lalitpur
    • Bihar: Gaya, Jehanabad
    • Karnataka: Vijaypura
    • Others: Manipur and Tripura (districts not specified)
• Criteria for district selection: Rainfed areas, presence of Aspirational Blocks as identified by NITI Aayog.
• Financial and procurement support:
  • ₹1 crore allocated for seed distribution.
  • 100% procurement guarantee at Minimum Support Price (MSP) if market price falls.
  • MSP for Kharif Marketing Season 2025-26 -
    • Arhar: ₹8,000/quintal
    • Urad: ₹7,800/quintal

Pulse Production and Trade Trends:

• Overview:
  • Pulses are rich in protein (20–25% by weight); crucial for a carbohydrate-rich Indian diet.
  • India is the largest producer of pulses globally.
  • Major pulses produced in India are Arhar (Tur), Urad, Moong, Masur, Gram, etc.
• Domestic production trends:
  • Increased from 163.23 lakh tonnes in 2015–16 to 244.93 lakh tonnes in 2023–24.
  • Key producing states: MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, UP, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, etc.
  • Import-export data (in lakh tonnes):
    • In 2021-22, imports are 26.99 and exports are 3.87.
    • In 2022-23, imports are 24.96 and exports are 7.62.
    • In 2023-24, imports are 47.38 (~$5 billion) and exports are 5.94 ($ 686.9 million) Imports doubled in 2023–24 compared to previous year, highlighting dependency risks.
• Major export destinations: Bangladesh, China, UAE, USA, Sri Lanka.
• India's major destinations for pulse imports: Canada, Australia, Myanmar, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

Policy Support for Pulse Cultivation:

• Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA): Under the Price Support Scheme (PSS), the government procures pulses at MSP. Procurement limit of 25% lifted for Tur, Masoor, and Urad during 2023–24 and 2024–25.
• National Food Security Mission (NFSM): Implemented in 28 States and 2 UTs (J&K and Ladakh), it aims to enhance foodgrain production including pulses.
• Crop Diversification Programme (CDP): Implemented in Green Revolution States - Haryana, Punjab, Western UP, it encourages shift from water-intensive paddy to pulses and oilseeds.
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY): It offers states flexibility to address regional agricultural needs, including pulse promotion.