Procurement of oilseeds and pulses lagging behind cereals

Recent efforts by the Centre to ramp up output of pulses and oilseeds, which the country imports heavily, such as procurement at minimum support prices (MSP) have been inconsistent, as the key beneficiaries of MSPs continue to be water-guzzling cereals such as rice and wheat, latest Reserve Bank of India (RBI) figures show.

- Zia Haq

NEW DELHI:

While procurement of pulses and oilseeds by the government has increased by several times, it is still far lower than that of wheat and rice. India grows plentiful cereals, but not enough pulses and oilseeds, the imports of which are a key factor that stokes inflation and also causes a drain of precious foreign exchange for regular imports.

The Modi government has adopted a two-pronged strategy to encourage farmers to grow more lentils and oilseeds. While the government has consistently announced higher MSPs for pulses and oilseeds as an incentive for farmers, compared to cereals, the Union cooperation as well as the food ministries have been pressing state-backed cooperatives to procure these items from farmers.