FM: 6-yr mission to boost pulses output

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, presenting the Union Budget 2025-26, announced the launch of a six-year mission to boost output of pulses to help achieve self-sufficiency of three widely consumed varieties.

- Zia Haq

NEW DELHI:

Pulses are the commonest source of protein, which saw a high spell of inflation in 2024, peaking to 18% at the retail level in August.

The pulses mission will focus on development of climate-resilient seeds, remunerative prices for growers, and post-harvest management as well as storage, according to the objectives laid out in the budget.

A key target handed down to Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is to end India's dependence on imports to meet the country's pulses demand by 2029-30.

"Our government will now launch a six-year mission for aatmanirbharta (self-sufficiency) in pulses with a special focus on tur (pigeon pea), urad (black gram) and masoor (yellow lentils)...central agencies will be ready to procure these three pulses, as much as offered during the next four years from farmers who register with these agencies and enter into agreements," Sitharaman said, presenting her eighth budget in a row and the first in the Modi government's third term.