Lok Sabha Question No. 2512 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-09
Subject: World Pulses Day
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Amol Ramsing Kolhe, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Supriya Sadanand Sule

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2512

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH  MARCH, 2021

## WORLD PULSES DAY

2512.  DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR. S.:

SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ ष एवं कसान क  याण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether the Government has observed World Pulses Day recently;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof along with the theme of the event and initiatives taken by the Government to make the event successful;
- (c)  whether the Government has neglected the growth in production of pulses in the country resulting in large import of pulses though being the largest producer of pulses in the world;
- (d)   if so, the details thereof along with the names of countries from where pulses were/are being imported along with the rates at which the same were/are imported;
- (e)  whether any financial aid is extended to farmers to grow pulses in the country in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)      the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  boost production  of  pulses  in  the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान क  याण मंी

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) & (b): World Pulses Day (WPD) was observed on 12 th February, 2021. WPD aims  to  raise  awareness  of  pulses  and  highlight  the  critical  role  of  pulses  in addressing the challenges of poverty, food security, human health and nutrition, soil

health  and  environment  thereby  contributing to  Sustainable  Development  Goals (SDGs).   A  high  level  event  to  commemorate  the  WPD  was  organized  by  Food  and Agriculture  Organization  (FAO)  virtually,  in  which  Union  Minister  for  Agriculture  and Farmers Welfare, Government of India delivered key note address.

(c) & (d): India  is  the  largest  producer  of  pulses  in  the  world,  with  nearly  26% share  to  global  pulse  production.  The  increase  in  pulse  production  in  recent  years has  been  attributed  to  both  area  expansion  and  productivity  enhancement.  The production of pulses has increased from 16.32 million tonnes during 2015-16 to 24.42 million tonnes during 2020-21 (2 nd advance estimates for 2020-21).

To meet the marginal shortage, pulses are imported from the countries like Canada, Myanmar,  Tanzania  Republic,  Mozambique,  Australia,  China,  Brazil,  United  Arab Emirates , Turkey,  Russia,  United  States of  America  (USA)  etc. The  quantity  and values of imported pulses during last 3 years is as under:

| Year    |   Quantity (million tonnes) |   Value (Rs. in crore) |
|---------|-----------------------------|------------------------|
| 2017-18 |                        5.61 |                18748.6 |
| 2018-19 |                        2.52 |                 8035.3 |
| 2019-20 |                        2.9  |                10221   |

(e)  &  (f):  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM)  -  Pulses  programme  has  been implemented  in  2019-20  and  2020-21  of  COVID-19  pandemic  period.    The  pulses development programme under NFSM is implemented in 644 districts of 28 States and  Union  Territories  (UTs)  of  Jammu  &  Kashmir  and  Ladakh.  Department  of Agriculture,  Cooperation  and  Farmers  Welfare  (DAC&FW)  released  an  amount  of Rs.980.41 crore and Rs.691.29 crore during 2019-20 and 2020-21 (as on 01.03.2021), respectively. Under NFSM-Pulses, incentives are given to the farmers for  cluster demonstrations, seed distribution & production of certified seeds of High Yielding  Varieties  (HYVs),  farm  machineries/tools,  efficient  water  saving  devices, plant  protection  chemicals,  nutrient  management,  soil  ameliorants  and  trainings  to the farmers. In order to enhance production of pulses, following initiatives have been taken:-

-  Support for breeder seed production of pulses.
-  150  Seed  Hubs  created  at  ICAR  institutes,  State  Agriculture  Universities (SAUs) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) for increasing certified seeds production of pulses.
-  Distribution of seed minikits of pulses for the varieties notified within 10 years free of the cost to the farmers.
-  ICAR/KVKs/SAUs conduct the demonstrations on improved latest package of practices.
-  Central  Seed  Agencies  to  produce  certified  seed  of  pulses  latest  varieties notified within 5 years.
-  A  new  scheme  'Intercropping  of  pulses  with  sugarcane'  launched  for  12 States namely- Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha,  Punjab,  Tamil  Nadu,  Telangana,  Uttar  Pradesh  and  Uttarakhand  during 2018-19 and 2019-20.
-  Special Action Plan undertaken for increasing pulses productivity was implemented during 2019-20.
-  Launched  Targeting  Rice  fallow  Area  (TRFA)  programme  under  NFSM emphasizing on land that remains underutilized after harvesting of kharif paddy and aims  to  bring  a  change  in  the  cropping  pattern  during  rabi  season  by  introducing appropriate varieties of pulses that can be cultivated using available moisture. It is

being implemented in 11 TRFA states across the country. Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  (PMKSY)  extend  the  coverage  of

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-  irrigation for crops including pulses.