Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Aims for Self-Sufficiency in Pulse Production

New Delhi [India], July 12: The central government is working towards achieving self-sufficiency in the production of pulses in the country, highlighted Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during his review meeting of Kharif crops in Delhi.

Key Points from the Meeting

During the meeting, Minister Chouhan expressed happiness over the increase in the area of pulses cultivation during the ongoing Kharif sowing season. He noted that the area under pulses has increased by over fifty percent, particularly for Tur/Arhar.

Chouhan reiterated the central government’s commitment to 100% procurement for Urad, Arhar, and Masur in all states and called for generating awareness so that more farmers come forward for pulse cultivation.

Additional Discussions

Officials briefed the minister about the onset of the monsoon, groundwater situation, and the availability of seeds and fertilizers. The minister stressed the timely availability of fertilizers for both Kharif and Rabi crops and advised the Department of Fertilizer to ensure the availability of DAP fertilizers as per the demand of states.

Attendees

The meeting was attended by officials from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Ministry, the Indian Meteorological Department, the Central Water Commission, and the Department of Fertilizers.

Government Initiatives

The government’s efforts to boost production include encouraging farmers to shift towards pulse cultivation through pre-registration initiatives by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumer’s Federation of India Ltd (NCCF). In Madhya Pradesh alone, 8,487 Urad farmers have registered through NCCF and NAFED.