Pulses production in India amounts to about 25% of world’s production and these are grown in 23.26 million ha area leading to an annual production of about 15 million tons. As there is ever increasing domestic demand for pulses and productivity being low and unstable, Ministry of Agriculture is intensifying extension efforts, coupled with policy and technological interventions to bring about much needed acceleration in production and productivity of pulses besides making cultivation of pulses a profitable proposition for Indian Farmers; through a region-centric and multipronged approach adopted under National Food Security Mission (NFSM). NFSM has taken following steps in this direction:
- A special scheme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), “Targeting Rice Fallow Areas in Eastern India for Pulses” has been initiated from Rabi 2016 to bring rice fallow areas under cultivation.
- Pigeonpea on rice bunds has been encouraged.
- 31,000 Clusters front line demonstrations through 574 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) during 2016-17 have been conducted.
- 150 Seed hubs have been established in State Agricultural Universities/ Krishi Vigyan Kendras / Indian Council of Agricultural Research Institutes for production of quality seeds of pulses.
- 15% allocation of pulses component of NFSM is earmarked for production of quality seeds from Kharif 2016.
After taking above efforts the total production of pulses during 2015-16 was 16.35 million tonnes whereas in 2016-17 productions have reached up to 22.15 million tonne which is 35.8% increase over the year 2015-16.
NFSM-Pulses, is one of the components of the centrally sponsored scheme of National Food Security Mission and is under implementation since Rabi 2007-08. This component has undergone a number of changes since its inception and has taken the shape of sole centrally sponsored scheme on pulses by merging all the pulses components of another centrally sponsored scheme namely Integrated Scheme on Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil palm and Maize (ISOPOM). Accelerated Pulses Production Programme (A3P) is another step forward for vigorous implementation of the pulse development under the NFSM-Pulses. A3P has been conceptualized to take up the active propagation of key technologies such as Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in a manner that creates catalyzing impact by assuring farmers of the higher returns from the identified pulse crops. This covers large area for five major pulse crops namely gram, urad (black gram), arhar (red gram/pigeon pea), moong (green gram) and masoor (lentils) for increasing production and productivity of these crops.
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