India heavily relies on imports for two essential agricultural commodities: edible oil and pulses. However, recent years have witnessed a significant reduction in pulses imports, accompanied by an increased focus on boosting domestic production. This essay explores India’s progress in achieving self-sufficiency in pulses production, along with the challenges and government measures in place. Additionally, it highlights the import dependency in the edible oil sector and the need for increased domestic production.
Imports of Pulses: A Declining Trend
- Quantity of Pulses Imports:
- From 3.18 million tonnes (mt) in 2013-14 to 2.52 mt in 2022-23.
- Yellow/white peas (matar) and chickpea (chana) experienced significant drops.
- Increase in Domestic Production:
- Pulses output rose from 19.26 mt in 2013-14 to 27.50 mt in 2022-23.
- Government measures contributing to increased production:
- Incentivizing farmers to expand pulses cultivation during the rabi season.
- Imposing a 60% import duty on chana since March 2018.
- Setting a 50% duty and a minimum price for yellow/white peas imports.
Indian Pulses Sector: Importance and Production Overview
- India’s Role in Global Pulses Market:
- Largest producer (25% of global production), consumer (27% of world consumption), and importer (14%).
- Contribution to Food Grains Production:
- Pulses account for around 20% of the area under food grains and contribute 7-10% to total foodgrains production.
- Major Pulses and Top Producing States:
- Major pulses: chickpeas, pigeon pea, moong beans, urad, masur, peas, and various kinds of beans.
- Top five pulses producing states: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.
- International Recognition:
- United Nations’ declaration of 2016 as the “International Year of Pulses” to promote their nutritional benefits.
Climatic Conditions and Seasonal Cultivation
- Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid Seasons:
- Rabi crops require mild cold climate during sowing, vegetative to pod development, and warm climate during maturity/harvesting.
- Kharif pulse crops require a warm climate throughout their lifecycle.
- Summer pulses are cultivated in warm climates.
- Notable Pulses in Each Season:
- Kharif: Arhar, Urd, Moong, Lobia, Kulthi, and Moth.
- Rabi: Gram, Lentil, Pea, Lathyrus, and Rajmash.
- Summer: Greengram, Blackgram, and Cowpea.
Benefits of Pulses
- Nitrogen Fixation and Conservation of Soil Nutrients.
- Cost Advantages and Resource Efficiency.
- Inter-cropping and Crop Rotation Practises.
- Climate Resilience and Adaptability.
- Longer Shelf Life and Minimal Processing Requirements.
- Contribution to Global Food Security.
Challenges in Pulse Production
- Inadequate Storage Facilities.
- Price Volatility due to Rainfed Dependency.
- Decrease in Cultivation Area and Farmer Preferences for Higher Yielding Crops.
- Inconsistencies in Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Limited Farmer Representation.
- Importing Pulses at Lower Prices than Domestic Rates.
Government Initiatives
NFSM (National Food Security Mission): The Government of India launched the National Food Security Mission in 2007-08 as part of the 11th five-year plan. This mission adopted a two-pronged strategy to achieve its objectives. Firstly, it aimed to expand the cultivation area of pulses, and secondly, it aimed to enhance productivity by bridging the gap between actual and potential yields.
RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana) program: The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana is an ongoing scheme that has been implemented since the 11th Five Year Plan by the National Development Council (NDC). This program provides incentives to states to allocate more resources to the agriculture and allied sectors.
PM-POSHAN: The Indian government has urged states to procure pulses for Mid-day meals under the PM-POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) program, specifically from the NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.).
World Pulses Day: February 10th is designated as a global event to recognize and highlight the importance of pulses and legumes as a vital source of food worldwide. In 2016, the UN General Assembly declared it the International Year of Pulses (IYP) to promote awareness and sustainable production of pulses.
Important Points:
- India’s import of pulses dropped by 60% between 2017-18 and 2022-23 📉
- The country aims to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses production within three years 🌾🇮🇳
- Imports account for a significant portion of India’s edible oil consumption 🌽🛢️
- Only 9-10 million tonnes of cooking oil out of 24-25 million tonnes are domestically produced 🛢️🌾
- Pulses imports more than doubled from 2013-14 to 2016-17, but have significantly decreased since then 📉
- Domestic pulses production has increased from 19.26 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 27.50 million tonnes in 2022-23 🌾📈
- Yellow/white peas (matar) and chickpea (chana) imports have seen a substantial drop 📉
- Government measures, such as incentivizing farmers and imposing import duties, have contributed to increased pulses production 🌾🏭
- India is the largest producer, consumer, and importer of pulses globally 🌍🌾
- Pulses account for 20% of the area under food grains and contribute to foodgrains production 🌾🥘
- Rabi pulses contribute more than 60% to total production 🌾❄️
- Major pulses include chickpeas, pigeon pea, moong beans, urad, masur, peas, and various kinds of beans 🌾🌱
- The top five pulses producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka 🏭🌾
- Pulses offer benefits such as nitrogen fixation, cost advantages, intercropping possibilities, and climate resilience 🌾💪
- Challenges to pulse production include inadequate storage, price volatility, and decrease in cultivation area 🏭🌾💼
- Inconsistencies in Minimum Support Price (MSP) and limited farmer representation pose obstacles 📉🤝
- Government measures like NFSM, RKVY, PM-POSHAN, and World Pulses Day aim to support pulses production 🌾🇮🇳💼
Why In News
India heavily relies on imports for two crucial agricultural commodities, namely edible oil and pulses, which play a vital role in meeting the country’s domestic consumption demands. This import-dependency highlights the importance of establishing sustainable domestic production systems to enhance self-sufficiency and reduce the vulnerability associated with fluctuations in international markets.
MCQs about Empowering Edible Oil and Pulses Production
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Which factor contributed to the reduction in pulses imports in India?
A. Increase in domestic production
B. Decrease in demand for pulses
C. Implementation of import restrictions
D. Rise in global pulses prices
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Which season contributes the most to the total pulses production in India?
A. Kharif
B. Rabi
C. Zaid
D. Summer
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What were the key government measures that helped boost chana production in India?
A. Reduction in import duty
B. Incentivizing farmers to expand chana cultivation
C. Implementation of import quotas
D. Introduction of price subsidies
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Which initiative aims to promote the importance of pulses and legumes globally?
A. World Pulses Day
B. National Food Security Mission
C. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
D. PM-POSHAN program
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