India’s ambitious goal of becoming self-sufficient in pulses by 2027 is facing challenges despite a record-breaking sowing during the kharif season. While farmers have planted a larger area with pulses, experts are expressing concerns about the yield and the impact of potential excessive rainfall in September.
Bimal Kothari, chairman of the India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), highlights the fact that the yield isn’t sufficient to meet the country’s growing demand for pulses. Adding to these concerns, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted an unusually rainy September, particularly in northern India, where a significant portion of the pulse crop is grown.
The La Niña effect, characterized by cooling of the central Pacific Ocean, is expected to influence weather patterns in September, raising concerns about potential damage to standing crops. This is particularly worrisome as India’s pulse yield currently stands at approximately one tonne per hectare, significantly lower than major importing countries like Canada, which achieves a yield of four tonnes per hectare.
The nation’s dependence on imported pulses has been increasing in recent years, with imports rising by 44% in 2023 to 2.99 million tonnes (mt). The government, aiming to achieve self-sufficiency, has set a target to end pulse imports by 2027, a goal emphasized by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Union Budget. To achieve this objective, the government intends to enhance production, storage, and marketing of pulses and oilseeds.
However, experts like Siraj Hussain, former agriculture secretary, warn that excessive rainfall could significantly impact the yield of pulses. The Directorate of Pulses Development identifies Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka as the major kharif pulse-growing states, contributing a combined 79% of the nation’s production.
The increasing population and demand for pulses pose a significant challenge. India is projected to require 40 million tonnes of pulses by 2030, while production has fallen to 24 million tonnes in the previous year. Kothari stresses the need for corrective measures, including encouraging crop diversification from rainfed to irrigated areas and extending subsidies to pulse farmers.
While some experts express concerns, K.G. Ramesh, former DG of IMD, holds a different view. He believes that September rains will not negatively impact pulse production, predicting a good harvest and a yield surpassing last year’s figures. He attributes this optimism to the government’s initiative of procuring all pulses at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), which has encouraged farmers and led to a rise in pulse sowing.
Data indicates that pulse sowing has increased by 8.47% this year, reaching 12.51 million hectares compared to 11.66 million hectares in the previous year. This growth is particularly evident in the sowing of tur and moong, which have increased by 5% and 4% respectively. However, there has been a slight decline of 2% in monsoon urad sowing.
Despite the government’s efforts and the positive outlook from some experts, the challenges facing India’s pulse production remain significant. Balancing the delicate interplay of weather patterns, yield, and demand will be crucial for achieving the ambitious goal of self-reliance in pulses.