Lok Sabha Question No. 267 (STARRED), answered on 2023-08-08
Subject: Production of Pulses
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ravindra Kushawaha, Ravi Kishan Shukla

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 267

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 TH  AUGUST, 2023

## PRODUCTION OF PULSES

## *267. SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA: SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare क ृ िष एवं िकसान क̵  याण मंũी be pleased to state;

- (a)     the difference in the pulse production during 2022-23 as compared to the previous year along with the total pulse production in the said year;
- (b)    whether the pulse production has decreased as compared to the previous years;
- (c)    if so, the details thereof;
- (d)    the details of pulse production during the last three years, year-wise;
- (e)    the effective steps being taken by the Government to increase the pulse production in the country; and
- (f) the measures being taken by the Government to increase the Pigeon Pea production in Wardha and Amravati of Vidarbha?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान क̵  याण मंũी

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (f):   A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (f)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION  NO.  267  DUE  FOR  ANSWER  ON  08.08.2023  REGARDING  'PRODUCTION  OF PULSES'.

(a) to (e):   Department  of  Agriculture,  &  Farmers  Welfare  is  implementing  National  Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Pulses with the objectives of increasing pulses production through area expansion and productivity enhancement in all the districts of 28 States  and 2 Union Territories viz. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh of the Country. Under NFSM-Pulses, assistance is  given  through  State  /UTs  governments  to  the  farmers  for  interventions  like  cluster demonstrations on improved package of practices, demonstrations on cropping system, seed production and distribution of HYVs/hybrids, improved farm machineries/resource conservation machineries/tools, efficient water application  tools,  plant protection  measures, nutrient management/soil ameliorants, processing & post-harvest equipment, cropping system based trainings etc. Initiatives like distribution of seed minikits of newer varieties of pulses, production of quality seed, technological demonstration by Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have also been included under NFSM for enhancing pulses production and productivity. Further, 150 Seed Hubs on Pulses have been set up under NFSM since 2016-17 to augment the availability of quality seed of Pulses. These Seed Hub centres have cumulatively produced more than 1 lakh quintal quality seed of pulses since then.

In order to increase the productivity potential of pulses crops in the country, the ICAR is undertaking basic and strategic research on these crops and applied research in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities for developing location-specific high yielding varieties and matching  production  packages.  During  2014-2023,  343  high  yielding  varieties/hybrids  of Pulses have been notified for commercial cultivation in the country. During the last five years (2018-19  to  2022-23),  cumulatively,  about  86015  qtl.  breeder  seed  of  Pulse  crops  was produced against total demand of about 68499 qtl. and supplied to various public/private seed agencies for their conversion into certified seed of pulses for the farmers.

Further to ensure remunerative prices to farmers, Government implements an umbrella scheme  PM-AASHA  comprising  Price  Support  Scheme  (PSS),  Price  Deficiency  Payment Scheme  (PDPS)  and  Private  Procurement  Stockist  Scheme  (PPSS)  in  order  to  ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers for their produce of notified oilseeds, pulses and copra. Under PSS scheme, procurement is undertaken directly from pre- registered farmers conforming to the prescribed Fair Average Quality (FAQ) norms by Central Nodal Agencies through the State level agencies at MSP announced by the Govt. as and when prices fall below the MSP during the harvesting period. During the year 2021-22, a total of 30.31 lakh tonnes of pulses were procured under PSS benefitting 13,90,737 farmers, while during 2022-23 (as on 31.07.2023) 28.33 lakh tonnes of pulses have been procured so far, benefitting 12,43,977 farmers.

Due to various steps taken by the Government, pulses production has increased over the last five years. Total pulses production in the country has increased from 220.76 lakh tonnes in 2018-19 to 254.63 lakh tonnes in 2020-21 and to 273.02 lakh tonnes in 2021-22. As per Third Advance estimates, total pulses production in 2022-23 has further increased by 2.02 lakh tonnes over last year to 275.04 lakh tonnes.

(f):   The Government is distributing pulses seed minikits including Pigeon pea to popularize newly released high yielding varieties among farmers. During 2023-24, a total of 84,325 nos. of  Pigeonpea  /  Arhar  seed  minikits  have  been  allocated  to  Maharashtra  State.  Further, Government  is  implementing  Cluster  Front  Line  Demonstration  (CFLDs)  through  ICAR  for popularizing latest production technologies and latest varieties. During 2023-24, a total of 4250 nos (1700 ha) of Pigeon pea / Arhar CFLDs have been allocated to Maharashtra.

The details of Pigeon Pea Seed Minikits allocated and CFLDs conducted in Amaravati and Wardha districts are as under:

| Measures                                      | Amaravati    | Wardha       |
|-----------------------------------------------|--------------|--------------|
| Pigeon Pea minikits supplied during 2022-23   | 3848         | 2723         |
| Pigeon Pea minikits Allocation during 2023-24 | 10000        | 6675         |
| Nos of CFLDs conducted during 2022-23         | 100 (40 ha)  | 50 (20 ha)   |
| Nos of CFLDs Allocated during 2023-24         | 510 (204 ha) | 340 (136 ha) |

As is evident from the table, compared to previous year 2022-23, the allocation of seed minikits and CFLDS in the districts of Amaravati and Wardha has increased manifold during 2023-24.

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