Government think-tank NITI Aayog has laid out a comprehensive strategy to make India self-sufficient in pulses by 2030 and to double production by 2047, with an emphasis on modern farming methods, high-quality seeds, and climate-smart practices.
According to the report, India’s pulses production—at 26.06 million tonnes (MT) in 2022—is projected to rise to 34.45 MT by 2030 and further to 51.57 MT by 2047. Supply, after accounting for seed, feed, and wastage, is expected to touch 30.6 MT by 2030 and 45.8 MT by 2047, potentially creating a surplus of 3.79 MT by 2030 and 16.48 MT by 2047.
The strategy recommends a series of interventions, including:
Area retention and diversification through crop-wise clustering.
Distribution of high-quality seed kits with a focus on 111 high-potential districts.
Cluster-based cultivation under a “one block, one seed village” model.
Adoption of customized technologies suited to varied agro-ecological zones.
Climate adaptation measures to safeguard long-term productivity.
Data-led transformation with robust monitoring and decision-support systems.
The report also calls for awareness campaigns to encourage healthier diets in line with ICMR-NIN guidelines, highlighting the nutritional value of pulses and their role in food security.
By aligning supply-side strategies with demand-side initiatives, NITI Aayog projects that India can not only bridge its demand-supply gaps but also emerge as a sustainable and surplus producer of pulses—critical for both farmer incomes and national food security.