Lok Sabha Question No. 821 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-25
Subject: Production of Pulses and Vegetable  Oils
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ramya  Haridas

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 821

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 TH  JULY, 2023

## PRODUCTION OF PULSES AND VEGETABLE OILS

821. MS. RAMYA HARIDAS:

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

- (a) whether the Government has assessed the impact of increase in the cultivation of pulses on the agro-ecosystem and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government is taking action towards crop diversification and if so, the details thereof, State-wise; (c) whether the Government is aware that the production of pulses and vegetable oils in the country is not sufficient; (d) if  so,  the  details  of  the  schemes  which  the  Government  is  implementing for increasing the area under these crops; and the  manner  in  which  the  Government  is  ensuring  the  promotion  of  pulses cultivation along with the price of pulses and vegetable oilseeds being sold to farmers,

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

- क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR) (a) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has assessed the impact for  pulses  cultivation  in  different  agro-ecologies  with  respect  to  soil  health,  soil microbial biomass, resilience to climate change etc.
- (b)      Government  of  India  is  supplementing  the  efforts  of  state  governments  to encourage  diversified  production  of  crops  including  pulses,  coarse  cereals,  nutri cereals,  cotton  &  oilseeds  under  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM)  and
- (e) State-wise?

horticultural crops under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). Government  of  India also provides flexibility to the states for state specific needs/priorities under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

Further, to encourage farmers to adopt alternative crops to paddy, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing the Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) under RKVY in the Original Green Revolution States viz; Haryana, Punjab  and  Western  Uttar  Pradesh  since  2013-14  towards  alternative  crops  like pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutri cereals, cotton etc. CDP aims at demonstrating alternative  crops  at  farmers  field.  A  pilot  project  for  'Diversification  of  4.85  million hectares' in five years (2023-24 to 2027-28) in identified 75 districts of 17 States / Union Territory namely Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharakhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand and West Bengal representing 14 Agro Ecological Regions of the country has been approved to ICARIndian Institute of Farming Systems Research (IIFSR), Modipuram.

(c) to  (e)  While  the  production  of  oilseeds  is  not  sufficient  to  meet  the  domestic demand of vegetable oils, however, the increased production of pulses has narrowed down the import of pulses to around 9 per cent of the domestic production. In order to enhance the production of oilseeds and pulses, Government is implementing National Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM)  in  the  country.  Under  NFSM,  assistance  is  given through State Governments to farmers for interventions like cluster demonstrations on improved package of practices, demonstrations on cropping system, seed production and distribution of High Yielding Varieties/Hybrids, improved farm machineries/resource conservation machineries/tools, efficient water application tools, plant  protection  measures,  nutrient  management/soil  ameliorants,  cropping  system based trainings to the farmers etc. The production of pulses has increased from 163.20 lakh tonne in 2015-16 to 275.04 lakh tonne in 2022-23 (as per 3rd Advance Estimates) and oilseeds from 252.50 lakh tonne to 409.97 lakh tonne during same period. Further, import of pulses has declined from 58 lakh tonne in 2015-16 to 24.96 lakh tonne in 2022-23.

In addition, the mission also provides support to Indian Council of Agricultural Research  (ICAR)  &  State  Agricultural  Universities  (SAUs)/Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras (KVKs) for technology back stopping and transfer of technology to the farmer under supervision of Subject Matter Specialists/Scientists. Government has also launched a separate Mission for Oil Palm namely, National Mission on Edible Oils (Oil Palm) in 2021-22.    Both,  NFSM- Oilseeds  and  NMEO  (OP)  mission  components  are  being implemented in the country with an objective to augment the availability of vegetable oils  by  increasing  the  production  and  productivity  of  oilseeds  &  oil  palm.  Further, Targeting  Rice  Fallow  Area  (TRFA)  under  NFSM  is  implemented  for  cultivation  of pulses & oilseeds in rice fallow of 12 states. RKVY also supports pulses and oilseeds production in the states.

The prices of pulses and oilseeds being sold to the farmers in various states comprise of incentives provided by Government of India under NFSM programme on certified  seed  distribution  of  High  Yielding  Varieties  (HYVs)  of  pulses  and  oilseeds (except sesame) upto Rs. 5000 per quintal and Rs. 4000 per quintal, respectively and for Hybrids in oilseeds and varieties of sesame upto Rs. 8000 per quintal. Further, Government is also supplying seed minikits of HYVs of pulses and oilseeds free of cost to the farmers.

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