India is taking steps to address its growing reliance on pulse imports by launching a pilot project aimed at increasing domestic production. This initiative, focusing on tribal areas of Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu, employs an ‘assured buyback farming’ model where the government guarantees the purchase of the entire produce from participating farmers.
The project, spearheaded by the National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF), has enlisted 209 farmers in Jharkhand and 15 farmers in Tamil Nadu. The NCCF, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, will buy back the entire produce of tur and urad, cultivated across 1,259 acres. The program plans to expand to include other pulses like Bengal gram, green gram, masoor, and moong, with quality seeds already distributed to farmers.
India has set an ambitious goal of becoming self-reliant in pulses by 2027. However, pulse production has witnessed a decline in recent years, raising concerns about food security. The country’s annual consumption of pulses is estimated at around 27 million tonnes, resulting in significant import dependence. In 2023, India imported 2.99 million tonnes of pulses, a 44% increase compared to the previous year.
The assured buyback farming scheme provides a crucial incentive for farmers to shift towards pulse cultivation. This model guarantees a stable income and reduces the risk associated with fluctuating market prices. The government aims to stimulate pulse production, eventually reaching a target of 40 million tonnes by 2030, which is projected to be the country’s pulse requirement by then.
The initiative also comes at a time when the government is implementing a minimum support price (MSP) for pulses, providing an additional safety net for farmers. For the kharif crop season 2024-25, the MSP for moong is set at ₹ 8,682 per quintal, ₹ 7,550 per quintal for tur/arhar, and ₹ 7,400 per quintal for urad.
The pilot project serves as a critical step towards achieving India’s pulse production goals and reducing its reliance on imports. The success of this initiative could pave the way for wider adoption of assured buyback farming across the country, contributing to sustainable agricultural development and ensuring food security for the nation.