​Farmers’ pulse, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• India's pulse production is around 2.5 crore tonnes, while demand is 3 crore tonnes, with imports filling the gap.
• Pulses contribute to approximately a quarter of non-cereal protein intake and support 5 crore farmer families.
• Government procurement under the Price Support Scheme fluctuated between 2.9% and 12.4% of production during 2019-24.
• The October 2025 self-sufficiency Mission aims for 310 lakh hectares of cultivation and 350 lakh tonnes of production by 2030-31 with an outlay of ₹11,440 crore.

Detailed Insights:

• India uses import policies, price stabilization, and MSP procurement to manage pulse demand, with imports being sensitive due to their impact on farmers.
• Farmers face challenges like weak procurement, rain-fed cultivation risks, and lower yields, leading to underinvestment in pulse cultivation.
• Many states lack adequate procurement centers, forcing farmers to sell to private traders below the official MSP, disincentivizing pulse cultivation.
• The inclusion of pulses in trade agreements with the U.S. could depress domestic prices and contradict the government's self-sufficiency mission.
• Addressing the procurement deficit, providing MSP guarantees, investing in productivity, and creating market systems are crucial for pulse farmers.
• Structural reforms are needed to reduce import dependence, enhance food security, and alleviate political sensitivity around trade agreements.

Key Concepts Involved:

• MSP (Minimum Support Price): A guaranteed price set by the government to protect farmers from price fluctuations.

MSP

• Price Support Scheme: Government intervention to stabilize agricultural prices and ensure fair returns to farmers.
• Procurement: The process by which the government purchases crops from farmers, often at the MSP.