Union Budget 2025: Six-year mission to achieve self-sufficiency in pulse production

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in the Budget

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled a six-year mission to achieve self-sufficiency in pulse production, emphasising tur, urad and masoor. Central agencies like NAFED and NCCF will facilitate procurement from registered farmers through formal agreements. This initiative, spanning the next four years, aims to provide farmers with assured support and guaranteed procurement.

Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted that the Government is implementing the National Mission for Edible Oilseed to achieve atmanirbhrata in edible oils. The Government made concerted efforts and succeeded in achieving near self-sufficiency in pulses. Farmers responded to the need by increasing the cultivated area by 50 per cent and the Government arranged for procurement and remunerative prices. Since then, with rising incomes and better affordability, the consumption of pulses has increased significantly. She further emphasised that the Government will launch a 6-year “Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses” with a special focus on Tur, Urad and Masoor. The Mission will emphasise the development and commercial availability of climate-resilient seeds; enhancing protein content; increasing productivity; improving post-harvest storage and management and assuring remunerative prices to the farmers. Central agencies (NAFED and NCCF) will be ready to procure these 3 pulses, as much as offered during the next 4 years from farmers who register with these agencies and enter into agreements.