Pulse of a nation: Is self-sufficiency in dal possible?

Last week, the government launched a new portal to buy pulses directly from farmers at support prices, targeting to be self-sufficient by 2027. To achieve that goal farmers will also need high-yielding varieties and a favourable trade policy. Mint explains:

- SAYANTAN BERA

1. What is the new portal about?

Last week, the government launched a new portal where farmers growing pulses can register and sell their produce directly to central agencies at the minimum support price (MSP). The move follows a spike in consumer prices which were 18% higher year-on-year in November 2023. Farmers often hesitate to grow pulses, preferring rice and wheat which government agencies procure at MSP to supply to the food security scheme. The Centre hopes the promise of assured purchase will get farmers to plant more pulses and cut imports. By end-2027, it expects India to be a net exporter of pulses.

2 What is the current supply gap?

In the past few years production of pulses was estimated at 27-28 million tonnes. Imports were 2.5 million tonnes in 2022-23. The shortfall is largely in varieties like arhar (pigeon pea), where lower production led to a surge in prices and imports. Other than pigeon peas, India also imports black gram and lentils. To increase domestic availability and cool retail prices, the government has allowed duty free import of pigeon peas, black gram and lentils till March 2025. While higher supply of imported pulses can help reduce local prices, it can also dissuade farmers from increasing the area under cultivation.

3 Can the country's pulses go the oilseeds way?