AATMANIRBHARTA IN PULSES IS A CHALLENGE

THE CONTEXT: The Government of India has launched a six-year “Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses” with a special focus on tur/arhar (pigeonpea), urad (black gram), and masoor (red lentil). The mission aims to reduce import dependence, ensure food security, and enhance farmers’ incomes through MSP-based procurement and post-harvest warehousing solutions. This initiative is significant given the increasing trend in pulses imports, which reached $3.28 billion during April-November 2024, and are projected to surpass $5.9 billion by the end of the fiscal year.

EVOLUTION OF PULSES PRODUCTION AND IMPORTS IN INDIA:

• • Pre-2016-17 Period: Pulses imports increased significantly from $1.83 billion (31.78 lakh tonnes) in 2013-14 to $4.24 billion (66.09 lakh tonnes) in 2016-17. This rise was driven by domestic production shortfalls and rising demand for protein-rich diets.
  • 2017-2022 Period: India achieved near self-reliance (aatmanirbharta) in pulses, with imports declining to 24.96 lakh tonnes ($1.94 billion) in 2022-23. Domestic production rose from 192.55 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to 273.02 lakh tonnes in 2021-22.
  • Post-2022 Trends: A drought year in 2023-24 caused a resurgence in imports, reaching 47.38 lakh tonnes ($3.75 billion). Imports of matar (peas), masoor (lentils), and tur/arhar surged, reversing earlier gains in self-reliance.

IMPORTANCE OF PULSES:

• • Nutritional Value: Pulses are promoted under POSHAN Abhiyaan as part of balanced diets to address malnutrition among children and women. The inclusion of pulses in mid-day meal schemes has improved protein intake among schoolchildren. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), pulses are “superfoods” that contribute to sustainable diets by addressing both undernutrition and overnutrition challenges.
  • Agronomic Benefits: Pulses have symbiotic relationships with rhizobia bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. Pulses require significantly less water compared to cereals like rice and wheat. For instance, rice requires ~4,000 liters/kg of water while pulses like moong require ~300 liters/kg. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed short-duration and drought-resistant varieties of pulses like moong and chana, enabling farmers to adapt to climate change.
  • Economic Significance: Pulses cultivation is economically viable for smallholder farmers in rainfed areas due to lower input costs and higher market prices. The pulses value chain—from production to processing—creates rural employment opportunities, particularly for women in post-harvest operations.
  • Strategic Role: Domestic production reduces vulnerability to global price fluctuations caused by climatic or geopolitical factors in exporting countries like Canada or Myanmar. Tur/arhar imports from Mozambique and Myanmar are subject to weather conditions in these regions. India signed a long-term agreement with Mozambique to ensure a steady supply of tur/arhar dal while promoting domestic cultivation under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM).

ACHIEVEMENTS IN PULSES PRODUCTION:

• • Development of Short-Duration Varieties: Traditional chana varieties required 140-150 days to mature. New short-duration varieties mature in 100-120 days, allowing farmers to utilize residual soil moisture after kharif crops. Increased chana production from 95.26 lakh tonnes (2013-14) to 135.44 lakh tonnes (2021-22). Photo-insensitive varieties of moong gram have enabled up to four cropping cycles annually. Moong production rose from 14.56 lakh tonnes (2013-14) to 36.76 lakh tonnes (2021-22).
  • Expansion of MSP Procurement: The government has significantly expanded Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement for chana and moong. NAFED have played a critical role in stabilizing prices and ensuring farmers’ incomes.

• • Reduction in Import Dependency (2017-2022): Imports of pulses declined from 66.09 lakh tonnes ($4.24 billion) in 2016-17 to 24.96 lakh tonnes ($1.94 billion) in 2022-23, reflecting increased domestic production.
  • Policy Support: Initiatives like the National Food Security Mission (NFSM-Pulses) have focused on increasing productivity through seed distribution, technology transfer, and financial incentives.

REGIONAL DYNAMICS OF PULSES PRODUCTION IN INDIA:

• • Concentration of Tur/Arhar Cultivation in Rainfed Areas: Tur/arhar cultivation is concentrated in rainfed areas like Marathwada-Vidarbha and northern Karnataka. Over 85% of India’s pulses are grown in rainfed areas, making them highly vulnerable to climatic risks such as droughts and erratic rainfall patterns. Farmers often rely on tur/arhar as a fallback crop due to its drought-tolerant nature, but its long duration (150-180 days) limits cropping flexibility.
  • Limited Alternative Cropping Options: Over-reliance on tur/arhar exposes farmers to market price volatility and policy ambiguities (e.g., duty-free imports). In 2024-25, tur/arhar imports reached a record high of 10 lakh tonnes, suppressing domestic prices.
  • Uneven Distribution of Procurement Centers: Procurement centers for pulses are concentrated in certain states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, leaving regions like Marathwada underrepresented. Farmers in underrepresented regions struggle to sell their produce at MSP due to logistical challenges.
  • Climate Change Impacts on Pulses Production: The drought year of 2023-24 led to significant production shortfalls across rainfed regions. Imports surged during April-November 2024 ($3.28 billion), reversing earlier gains in self-reliance. Current crop insurance schemes like PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana) have limited coverage for pulses crops.
  • Conflicting Signals from Trade Policies: The government’s extension of duty-free imports for tur/arhar until March 31, 2026, conflicts with its goal of achieving self-reliance under the “Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses.” Policy uncertainty creates confusion among farmers regarding market demand and price stability.

COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS FOR ACHIEVING SELF-RELIANCE IN PULSES:

• • Research & Development (R&D): Focus on breeding tur/arhar hybrids maturing within 140-150 days with yields of 18-20 quintals/hectare. Success of short-duration chana varieties (100-120 days) can be replicated for tur/arhar.
  • Climate-Resilient Crops: Invest in drought-resistant varieties to mitigate risks in rainfed areas. Collaboration with ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) and ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics) can accelerate progress.
  • Incentivizing Domestic Production: Reintroduce import duties on pulses like masoor and matar to protect domestic farmers from cheap imports. Expand MSP procurement to include underrepresented pulses like tur/arhar and urad. Decentralize procurement centers in rainfed regions like Marathwada-Vidarbha (Maharashtra) and northern Karnataka.
  • Infrastructure Development: Build modern warehouses and cold storage units under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). Establish processing units for dal milling in major pulses-producing regions to increase farmers’ income. Use platforms like e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) for transparent pricing and efficient distribution. The Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) has successfully implemented scientific storage systems for cereals; similar models can be extended to pulses.
  • Farmer Support Programs: Provide subsidies under PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) for shifting from water-intensive crops like sugarcane or paddy to pulses. Train farmers in advanced agronomic practices like intercropping pulses with cereals or oilseeds. Strengthen coverage under PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana) for pulses crops vulnerable to climatic risks.
  • Leveraging Global Expertise: Partner with Canada and Australia to adopt best practices in high-yielding varieties and mechanization. Use India’s G20 presidency to negotiate favorable trade terms for pulses imports while promoting exports of surplus varieties like chana or moong. The FAO emphasizes South-South Cooperation as a mechanism to enhance agricultural productivity through knowledge sharing between developing nations.
  • Building Resilience in Rainfed Areas: Expand micro-irrigation coverage under PMKSY to reduce dependency on erratic rainfall patterns. Encourage agroforestry systems where pulses are intercropped with perennial crops like fruit trees for sustainable land use.

THE CONCLUSION:

India’s pulses sector requires urgent policy intervention, as evidenced by the surge in imports from $1.94 billion in 2022-23 to $3.75 billion in 2023-24.It require a focus on R&D for short-duration varieties, strengthening procurement infrastructure, and climate resilience. The success of reduced imports during 2018-19 to 2022-23 period demonstrates that achieving self-reliance is possible through coordinated efforts in improving domestic production, particularly in key pulses like tur/arhar and masoor, while maintaining strategic trade relationships with major exporters.

UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTIONS:

Q.1 Explain the changes in cropping pattern in India in the context of changes in consumption pattern and marketing conditions. 2023

Q.2 What do you mean by Minimum Support Price (MSP)? How will MSP rescue the farmers from the low income trap? 2018

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:

Q.1 Despite being the largest producer of pulses globally, India continues to rely heavily on imports to meet its domestic demand. Analyze the factors responsible for this paradox and suggest measures to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses production.

SOURCE:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/budget-announcement-why-aatmanirbharta-in-pulses-is-a-challenge-9813887/