The center targets a total pulse production of 32 million tonnes by 2030. At present, it is 24 million tonnes. According to Narendra Singh Tomar, The Agriculture Minister of India, dependence on import has decreased.
At the 3rd National Pulses Seminar, which was held on World Pulses Day on February 10, 2021, and organized by India Pulses and Grains Association, Tomar said, “Between 2017 and 2019, pulse production in India increased by 23 per cent. By 2030, we aspire to increase domestic pulses production to 320 lakh tonnes. We clearly have a demand for pulses, and both the government and farmers are working hard to meet it.”
The government is looking forward to generating a buffer of pulses for the year 2021-22. This has been proposed by the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ministry. They are seeking to generate a total pulses buffer stock of 10 lakh tonnes, including gram, urad, and tur.
According to the Secretary of Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Leena Nandan, the government had distributed free pulses to the poor during the Covid-19 lockdown and thereafter under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana. She informed that around 15 lakh tonnes of pulses were distributed free to around 20 crore beneficiary households.
The Secretary mentioned that this was possible because the government had enough buffer stock.
