Why India is nudging farmers to grow pulses

The government launched a ₹11,440 crore pulses mission earlier this month to achieve self-sufficiency. Imports soared to a record $5.5 billion in FY25. India is the world's largest producer and consumer of pulses. But how did farmers lose interest in legumes? Mint explains:

- BY SAYANTAN BERA

1 What is the new all mission all about? Announced in the Union budget in February, the Cabinet on 1 October approved the Mission for Atmanirbharta (self-sufficiency) in pulses. It will run from FY26 to FY31, with an allocation of *11,440 crore. The scheme will help develop and propagate more productive, and pest- and climateresilient varieties. It aims to bring an additional 3.5 million hectares under pulses by including fallow land. The government will subsidise new processing units and post-harvest infrastructure, and offer minimum support prices (MSP). The mission aims to raise output to 35 million tonnes (mt) in FY31 (from 25 mt in FY25).