MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIA )
(a): State-wise and variety-wise details of production of major pulses and oilseeds in the country during last two years and the current year i.e. 2013-14 to 2015-16 are given in Annexure-I.
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(b): On account of cultivation of pulses on marginal land under rainfed conditions, low area coverage due to risk of pests and diseases, higher profitability of other competing crops etc., production and productivity of pulses in the country has remained low. It has led to gap between the production and requirement/demand of pulses, which is met through imports. The details of imports of pulses during 2013-14 onwards are as under:-
Year Quantity of pulses imported (Lakh tonnes)
2013-14 31.77
2014-15 45.84
2015-16
(April-Sept) 22.54
In order to meet shortage and to attain self-sufficiency in pulses by enhancing their production and productivity in the country, Government of India has been implementing through State Governments, the National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Pulses since 2007-08. Presently, around 50% of the funds under the umbrella scheme of NFSM are allocated for promoting cultivation of pulses. Since 2014-15, NFSM-Pulses is being implemented in 622 districts of 27 States including all districts of North-Eastern and hill States. Further, since 2010-11 the Scheme “Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI)” is being implemented in Eastern States of Assam, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. To give a boost to their production, pulses have also been included under BGREI from 2015-16 as part of demonstrations under cropping systems based approach to target rice fallow areas.
(c): State-wise details of allocation and release of funds under the major schemes to increase production and productivity of pulses and oilseeds in the country are given in Annexure-II.
(d): In order to increase production of pulses and oilseeds and to make the country self-reliant, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has undertaken research programmes in different oilseeds and pulses at five commodity based research institutes. The research programmes include basic and strategic research related to crop improvement and production technologies in different pulses and oilseed crops.
The research findings, so developed, are validated in relevant agro-ecologies by 10 crops specific All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) mostly situated in the State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) for developing location specific varieties/hybrids and suitable production technologies of oilseeds and pulses to improve their production and quality.
Further, for increasing indigenous production of oilseeds and pulses in the country, the ICAR has submitted a Project proposal to Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) entitled “Strategies for Increasing Indigenous Production of Oilseeds and Pulses in India (a Mission Towards Achieving Self-Sufficiency)”. The proposal envisages three approaches namely; “Productivity Enhancement”, “Area Expansion” and “Bringing Down Crop Duration”. In October 2015, the ICAR and Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare have jointly submitted a Comprehensive Action Plan to PMO for attaining self-sufficiency in pulses by increasing their productivity, improving seed replacement rate, providing attractive minimum support price etc. to protect the interest of pulse growers.
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(e): To provide relief to the consumers on the increasing prices of pulses, Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) has been utilized to import 5000 Metric Tonnes of Tur Dal pulses through Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation (MMTC) which has been released to the States at lower rates. Some States have also accessed PSF for undertaking market intervention operations on agricultural commodities including pulses.
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