Narendra Singh Tomar: India moving towards goal of self-sufficiency in pulses production

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar has said that India is moving towards the goal of self-sufficiency in pulses production. Addressing at the World Pulses Day programme virtually organized by Indian Institute of Pulses Research, the Minister said that in the last five-six years the country has increased its pulses production from 140 lakh tonnes to 240 lakh tonnes.

He said, this has been possible due to the tireless and hard work of farmers, scientists and farmer-friendly policies of the union government.

Mr. Tomar said that according to an estimate, by the year 2050, about 320 lakh tonnes of pulses will be required in the country. However, consequent upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call, the dependence on imports of pulses has reduced and the country is saving more than 15,000 crore rupees per year, he added.

Underlining the good impact of pulses on human health, the Minister said that in six years, the MSP of pulses has been increased from 40 to 73 per cent, which is benefiting the farmers. He said that more work needs to be done on pulses to eradicate malnutrition. On this occasion, the Minister laid the foundation stone of IIPR’s Regional Centre in Khordha in Odisha besides inaugurating the office and laboratory buildings at IIPR’s Regional Centres at Bhopal and Bikaner.