In a major step toward achieving self-sufficiency in pulses, the Union government has set an ambitious target to increase pulses production by 40% to 350 lakh tonnes by the 2030–31 crop year, under a newly approved six-year mission.
Announcing the plan, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the government’s “Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses,” with a financial outlay of ₹11,440 crore, aims to strengthen India’s food security by expanding cultivation areas and improving productivity of key pulse crops such as tur, urad, and masur.
The mission, which will run from 2025–26 to 2030–31, seeks to raise the area under pulses cultivation from 275 lakh hectares to 310 lakh hectares, while enhancing productivity from 881 kg per hectare to 1,130 kg per hectare.
“We are not yet self-sufficient in pulses, but by 2030-31, India will produce 350 lakh tonnes compared to 242 lakh tonnes in 2023-24,” Chouhan said, expressing confidence in meeting the target.
The minister added that the government has identified 100 low-productivity blocks for special intervention and assured that import policies and duty structures would be adjusted to safeguard farmers’ interests.
In the 2024–25 crop year (July–June), India’s pulses production is estimated at 252.38 lakh tonnes, up from 242 lakh tonnes in the previous year. Despite being the world’s largest producer, India continues to import pulses to bridge the gap between domestic demand and supply.
To boost productivity, the Center plans to promote high-yielding and disease-tolerant seed varieties and ensure their timely availability to farmers. Government agencies such as NAFED and NCCF will provide assured procurement from registered farmers to encourage participation and stabilize farm incomes.
Chouhan emphasized that the mission aligns with the government’s broader goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in agriculture.
“This mission will not only boost domestic availability but also ensure price stability, farmer confidence, and nutritional security for the nation,” the minister said.