Question : Production of Pulses and Oilseeds

(a) whether the production of pulses and oilseeds has not increased as compared to their growing demand and consumption in the country during the last three years and the current year and if so, the detail thereof and the reasons therefor;

(b) whether the acreage and production of pulses have decreased during the current Rabi season vis-a-vis the last season if so, the details therof pulse-wise along with the percentage of shortfall;

(c) whether the Government has set any target for production of pulses and oilseeds in the year 2016-17 and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to achieve the target;

(d) whether the Government has provided/proposes to provide financial assistance/incentives to the farmers for opting advanced farm technology to enhance acreage and production of pulses and oilseeds in the country and if so, the details thereof including the benefits accrued/likely to accrue to the farmers during the said period State-wise; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to work on bio-technology to increase the production and productivity of pulses and oilseeds in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): Production of pulses and oilseeds in the country has been lower than their demand/ requirement. Details of projected demand and estimated production of pulses during last three years and the current year i.e. 2012-13 to 2015-16 are given below:-

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(Million tonnes)
Year Projected Demand Estimated Production Gap
2012-13 19.00 18.34 -0.66
2013-14 20.00 19.25 -0.75
2014-15 21.00 17.15 -3.85
2015-16 21.00 17.33* -3.67
*As per 2nd Advance Estimates

For oilseeds, year-wise demand has not been projected. However, details of projected demand and supply (production) of oilseeds for the Terminal year of 12th Five Year Plan i.e. 2016-17 are as under:

(Million tonnes)
Year Projected Demand Projected Supply
2016-17 59.00 33 to 41*
*Projected supply as per Sub-group of Working Group of Planning Commission

The production and productivity of pulses and oilseeds in the country has been lower due to their cultivation on marginal land under rainfed conditions, risk of pests and diseases and lower area coverage due to better profitability of other competing crops, etc.

(b): No Madam. As per 2nd Advance Estimates for 2015-16 released on 15th February, 2016, the area and production of Rabi pulses in the country during the year are estimated to be higher by 1.0% and 4.77%, respectively, in comparison to their area and production during the last year i.e. 2014-15.

(c) & (d): The annual targets for production of major agricultural crops including oilseeds and pulses are normally finalized around the beginning of an agricultural year (July-June). However, as per Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) memo of National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) the target of production of oilseeds for 2016-17 has been fixed at 35.51 million tonnes. Similarly, under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Pulses, it has been targeted to produce additional four million tonnes of pulses by the terminal year of 12th Five Year Plan i.e. 2016-17.

To achieve the above targets and to encourage farmers to produce more pulses and oilseeds, Government of India has been implementing various Crop Development Schemes/ Programmes such as National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Pulses, National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) etc.

Under the above schemes, assistance is provided for purchase of breeder seed, production and distribution of certified seed, planting material, establishment of seed gardens of oil palm, distribution of production inputs, transfer of technology through block demonstrations, integrated pest management, supply of plant protection equipments/chemicals, farmers training etc.

Further, the research programmes of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have resulted in the release of 68 varieties/hybrids of different oilseeds and 59 varieties of different pulses that have fair degree of tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses during the last five years (2011-2015). The improved varieties and production technologies are demonstrated at the farmers’ fields by the ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and Krishi
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Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) through Frontline Demonstrations (FLD) Programme to create awareness among the farmers.

The State-wise Allocation and Release of funds under NFSM-Pulses and National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) during 2012-13 to 2015-16 are given in Annexures-I and II.

(e): The Government of India is following a policy of case by case approval of Genetically Modified (GM) crop with the aim to achieve the goal of food security by using best available technology and scientific inputs. Under the research programmes of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), a thrust has been given for judiciously integrating conventional plant breeding, molecular biology, bioinformatics, genetic engineering, human resource and infrastructural development in XII plan. However, before any trails or commercial production of GM crop, the mandatory approval of Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under Ministry of Environment Forests & Climate Change is required. So far, no GM pulse or GM oilseed crop has been approved for commercial cultivation.