Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced significant initiatives aimed at enhancing pulse cultivation in India during a press conference at the National Media Centre in New Delhi on October 9, 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Yojana and the Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission this Saturday, with an ambitious goal of expanding the area dedicated to pulse farming from 27.5 million hectares to 31 million hectares by the 2030-31 fiscal year.
These programs were first unveiled in the previous Budget, and as part of the planned initiative, the government will procure domestically produced pulses. Chouhan emphasized the importance of these measures, stating that while India has achieved self-sufficiency in wheat and rice, there is still considerable ground to cover in the pulses sector.
Currently, India stands as the largest producer and consumer of pulses globally, while also being the biggest importer. The Minister outlined the objectives: increasing pulse production from 24.2 million tonnes to 35 million tonnes and enhancing productivity from 880 kg per hectare to 1,130 kg per hectare. He assured that high-quality seeds would be distributed to farmers to facilitate these targets.
In addition to the pulse initiatives, over 1,100 projects across various sectors-including agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing-worth ₹42,000 crore will also be inaugurated on the same day. Chouhan highlighted the establishment of 1,000 processing units in pulse-growing regions, designed to ensure better prices for farmers while promoting local value addition. Each unit will receive a government subsidy of ₹25 lakh.
The Minister described the overarching approach as “One Nation, One Agriculture, One Team,” indicating a collaborative effort with state governments to revitalize agriculture across the country. To tackle productivity disparities, the government plans to identify 100 low-productivity districts where targeted measures will be executed. These measures will include increasing irrigation coverage, enhancing storage facilities, improving access to credit, and encouraging crop diversification.
Chouhan’s remarks underscored the government’s commitment to advancing agricultural productivity and self-reliance in pulses, aiming to transform India’s agricultural landscape in the coming years. The initiatives echo a broader strategy to ensure food security and elevate the livelihoods of farmers nationwide.
This launch signals a pivotal shift in how India approaches pulse production, fostering both economic growth and sustainability in one of the country’s key agricultural sectors.
Published – October 09, 2025 10:23 pm IST
Categories: India
Tags: Agriculture, Pulses, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, PM Dhan-Dhaanya Yojana
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-modi-to-launch-initiatives-to-boost-pulses-production/article70145195.ece
Category : India
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Publish Date: 2025-10-09 22:23:00
