Indigenous production of Pulses
- Category
Economy
- Published
10th Jun, 2023
-
Context
As per information, India is building its pulses production capacity more as compared to Edible oils, in contrast to that both are the significantly import-dependent goods.
About
- The reduction in pulses imports have come essentially on the back of higher domestic production.
- According to the Agriculture Ministry, India’s pulses output has increased from 19.26 mt in 2013-14 to 27.50 mt in 2022-23.
- Private trade estimates of production are lower at 23-24 mt.
- Even taking 23 mt production and 2.5 mt imports translates into an Atmanirbharta or self-sufficiency ratio of over 90% in pulses, as against hardly 40% for edible oils.

Pulses vs. Edible Oils:
- Major pulses that are grown in India: Tur, urad, moong, masur, peas and gram.
- Chief Characteristics:
- Pulses are the major sources of protein in a vegetarian diet.
- Being leguminous crops, all the above-mentioned pulses (except tur) help in restoring soil fertility by fixing nitrogen from the air.
- Pulses need less moisture and survive even in dry conditions.
- Important Producing Areas: The major pulse producing areas are Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka. It is grown on about 11% of the total sown area in India.
- India is largest producer and consumer: India is the largest producer as well as consumer of pulses in the world.
- About 25% of the pulses of the world are produced here.
- Yellow/white peas – imported mainly from Canada, Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania – are basically a substitute for chana.
|
- India’s total imports of edible oils surged to a record Rs. 1.17 lakh crore in 2020-21 marketing year.
- More than half of India’s edible oil consumption is imported; India’s dependence on edible oil imports is to the tune of 65%.
- Sunflower oil accounts for 14% of all edible oil imports
- India imports 25 lakh tonnes of sunflower oil annually, of which 70% comes from Ukraine and 20% from Russia.
- India imports palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, while Soyabean oil comes from Brazil and Argentina.
- In 2019, edible oils accounted for 40% of agriculture import bills and 3% of overall import bill of the country.
- Palm Oil (62%) > Soya oil (21%) > Sunflower oil (16%).
|
Government Initiatives:
- To increase the production of pulses the National Food Security Mission-Pulses programme is being implemented in 644 districts of 28 States and Union Territories (UTs) of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
- Under NFSM-Pulses, incentives are given to the farmer for cluster demonstration, seeds distribution & production of certified seeds of High Yielding Varieties (HYVs), farm machineries/tools, and efficient water saving devices, plant protection chemicals, nutrient management, soil ameliorants and training to the farmers.