Question : Pulses Yield

(a) the percentage of pulses yield in the country during the last five years, State-wise;

(b) whether there is any drop/decline in the acreage and yield of pulses during the said period;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard;

(d) the target fixed to attain self-reliance in the field of pulses production and the manner in which it is likely to be achieved; and

(e) the details of the funds/grants provided to the farmers for the purpose during the above period, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA)

(a) & (b): The State-wise details of area coverage and yield of pulses during the last five years i.e. from 2012-13 to 2016-17 in the country are given in the Annexure-I.

Depending on yearly variations in weather, rainfall situation, irrigation facilities, shift in area to other competing crops etc., total area under pulses in the country in the last five years has been fluctuating in the range of 23 to 29 million hectares. Whereas, the yield of pulses hovered around 656 kg per hectares to 789 kg per hectares.

(c) to (e): The annual target for production of pulses has been fixed at 22.90 million tonnes for the year 2017-18.

Contd…2/-

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In order to increase the production/productivity and area of pulses, Government of India has been implementing various Crop Development Schemes / Programmes such as National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Pulses, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Soil Health Card, etc.

Additional Area coverage of Pulses during Rabi/Summer is a programme under NFSM-Pulses. The interventions covered under Additional area coverage of pulses include Demonstrations on Improved Technologies, Distribution of Certified Seeds, Effective Water Application Tools, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Further, to boost production of pulses in the country, Government has initiated various additional steps from the year 2016-17 which include creation of seed hubs through Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)/State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)/Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs); breeder seed production through ICAR institutes; distribution of seed minikits of pulses free of cost to farmers, incentives for seed production, etc.

Further, the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) of pulses have been increased over the years to encourage farmers to grow more pulses by ensuring remunerative prices.

State-wise details of allocation and release of funds to states under NFSM-Pulses during 2012-13 to 2016-17 are given at Annexure- II.