Demand for Pulses to Increase from 26.72 MT in 2021-22 to 32.64 MT in 2029-30: Niti Ayog

According to the report of the Working Group constituted by NITI Aayog on Demand and Supply Projections Towards 2033 – Crops, Livestock, and Agricultural Inputs (February 2018), demand for pulses is projected to increase from 26.72 million tonnes in 2021-22 to 32.64 million tonnes in 2029-30, according to the Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, in a written reply to a question in Lok According to the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare (DA&FW), the estimated pulse production in 2021-22 is 26.96 million tonnes.

The National Food Security Mission (NFSM), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, is implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. It aims to increase production of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals, and Nutri-cereals through area expansion and productivity enhancement in the country's identified districts; improve soil fertility, farm-level productivity, as well as the transfer of technology through demonstrations and training, and incentives on critical inputs.

Farmers are given incentives under NFSM-Pulses for cluster demonstrations, seed distribution, and the production of certified seeds of High Yielding Varieties (HYVs), farm machinery tools, efficient water-saving devices, plant protection chemicals, nutrient management, soil ameliorants, and farmer training. From 2016-17 to 2021-22, the pulse-wise yield of major pulses is given in Annexure.

To increase agricultural productivity, the government is implementing various schemes to provide farmers with subsidized farm inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, agricultural machinery and equipment, irrigation facilities, institutional credit, and so on.

Furthermore, the government has taken steps to increase investment in the agriculture sector, including the establishment of the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF), the Long-Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF), the Micro Irrigation Fund for water use efficiency, the promotion of commercial organic farming, and so on.

Furthermore, 50% of the regular outlay under the revamped Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), namely RKVY-RAFTAAR (Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation), has been earmarked for infrastructure and assets.

Pulse-wise Yield of Major Pulses from 2016-17 to 2021-22
(in Kg/Hectare)

As per 2nd Advance Estimates.

(Source: D/o Agriculture & Farmers Welfare)