Lok Sabha Question No. 2214 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-14
Subject: Production of Pulses
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2214

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH MARCH, 2023

## PRODUCTION OF PULSES

2214 SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

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

- (a) the details of the production of pulses mainly tur/arhar (pigeon pea), urad (black matpe) and moong and its domestic demand during the last five years, year-wise;
- (b) the prices of pulses during the same period and the steps taken by the Government to ensure their low prices; and
- (c) the main reasons for low production of   pulses in the country and the steps taken by the Government to boost its domestic production?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान क  याण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a): The production of Tur/ Arhar (Pigeon pea), Urad (Black matpe), Moong and total pulses during last five years is given as under:

(Lakh Tonnes)

| Year     |   Tur / Arhar |   Urad |   Moong |   Total Pulses # |
|----------|---------------|--------|---------|------------------|
| 2018-19  |         33.15 |  30.6  |   24.55 |           220.76 |
| 2019-20  |         38.92 |  20.81 |   25.09 |           230.25 |
| 2020-21  |         43.16 |  22.3  |   30.85 |           254.63 |
| 2021-22  |         42.2  |  27.76 |   31.66 |           273.02 |
| 2022-23* |         36.66 |  26.82 |   35.45 |           278.1  |

As per Working Group Report on 'Demand and Supply Projection towards 2033', published by NITI Aayog in February 2018, the demand for the pulses during the year 2016-17, 2020-21 and 2021-22 has been estimated at 236.10Lakh tonnes, 260.50Lakh tonnes and 267.20Lakh tonnes, respectively.

(b): The yearly average Whole sale Prices (based on calendar year from January to December) of Tur / Arhar, Urad and Moong since year 2018 areas under:

(Rs/Quintal)

| Crop        |   2018 |   2019 |   2020 |   2021 |   2022 |
|-------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Tur / Arhar |   4248 |   5379 |   5902 |   6593 |   6677 |
| Moong       |   5456 |   6232 |   7691 |   7639 |   7463 |
| Urad        |   4948 |   5591 |   7388 |   7712 |   7522 |

Source: Economics & Statistics Division, DA&FW.

The Government procures pulses from the farmers under the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) for the buffer. Stock of pulses are maintained in the PSF buffer to stabilise the volatility  in  prices,  discourage  hoarding  and  unscrupulous  speculation  and  protect  the consumer by making it available at reasonable prices through calibrated release of stock in the market and supplies to States for welfare schemes.

(c): The production of pulses has increased from 220.76 lakh tonnes from 2018-19 to 278.10 lakh tonnes during 2022-23 (as per 2 nd Advance Estimates). Moreover, theproduction of various crops including pulses depends on various factors such as weather extremities,  rainfall,  soil  type,  agro-climatic  condition,  irrigation  facilities,  types  of  crops cultivated, use of fertilizers and pesticides, length of growing seasons, technology used etc.

To  increase  pulses  production,  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers Welfare  (DAFW)  implements  the  National  Food  Security  Mission  Programme  (NFSM)  in identified districts across the country. Under NFSM-Pulses assistance is given to farmers for interventions like cluster demonstrations on improved package of practices, demonstrations on  cropping  system,  distribution  of  seeds  of  High  Yielding  Varieties  (HYVs)/  hybrids, improved  farm  machineries/  resource  conservation  machineries/  tools,  efficient  water application tools, plant protection measures,  nutrient management/  soil  ameliorants, processing and post-harvest equipment, cropping system based trainings to the farmers etc. through  State  Governments.  In  addition,  the  certified  seeds  of  High  Yielding  Varieties (HYVs)/ hybrids of pulses are provided in the form of seed minikits at free of cost to the farmers.

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