India’s Mission To Achieve Self-Sufficiency In Pulses Production

• On October 11, 2025, the Prime Minister launched the Mission for Self-Reliance in Pulses (2025-26 to 2030-31) with a budgetary allocation of ₹11,440 crore.
• It aims to increase domestic pulse production to 35 million tonnes and expand the cultivated area to 31 million hectares by 2030-31.
• It aims to ensure 100% procurement of tur, urad, and masoor at MSP for four years.
• A total of 8.8 million free seed kits and 12.6 million quintals of certified seeds will be distributed among farmers.
• Nearly 20 million farmers are expected to benefit from guaranteed procurement, quality seed distribution, and enhanced value chain support.

NEW DELHI 12/10/2025 REPORTS BY – SANTOSH SETH 

The “Mission for Self-Reliance in Pulses” is a significant step towards achieving both nutritional and economic security for India.

Prioritizing self-reliance, the Mission empowers farmers through technology adoption, assured procurement, capacity building, and access to quality seeds, while also promoting sustainable and climate-resilient practices.

Through a combination of scientific innovation, cluster-based interventions, and robust value chains, the Mission aims to not only meet domestic pulse demand but also reduce import dependence, increase farmer incomes, and establish India as a global leader in sustainable pulse production.

By integrating pulses into nutrition programs, improving post-harvest infrastructure, and promoting rural employment, the Mission’s impact will extend beyond food security to soil health, rural prosperity, and building a developed India.

In short, the Mission lays the foundation for a self-reliant, resilient, and productive pulses sector, ensuring long-term benefits for farmers, consumers, and the nation as a whole.

Pulses are not just an agricultural product; they are the foundation of India’s nutritional security, soil health, and rural livelihoods.

As the world’s largest producer, consumer, and importer of pulses, India’s policies have consistently focused on increasing productivity and sustainability in this vital sector.

Rising incomes and growing awareness of balanced nutrition are driving the demand for pulses, creating opportunities for increased domestic production.

In addition to their economic and commercial importance, pulses are also a significant source of nutrition. According to the National Institute of Nutrition, they contribute approximately 20 to 25 percent of the total protein intake in the Indian diet.

However, per capita pulse consumption is less than 85 grams per day, contributing to protein-energy malnutrition across the country.

Therefore, increasing domestic production is not only an economic necessity but also a crucial step towards improving public health.

Recognizing this dual importance, the Government of India has placed emphasis on strengthening the pulses sector. On October 11, 2025, a special agricultural event was held at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, where Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the Mission for Self-Reliance in Pulses (Pulses Self-Reliance Mission), with a total outlay of ₹11,440 crore.

During the event, the Prime Minister interacted with farmers involved in pulse cultivation and highlighted the importance of promoting value chain-based development in agriculture and allied sectors.

During the launch, it was emphasized that the mission aims not only to increase pulse production but also to build a sustainable and empowered future.

This mission is a major step towards achieving nutritional security and self-sufficiency. The Mission for Self-Reliance in Pulses Production was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 and approved by the Union Cabinet on October 1, 2025.

It will be implemented from 2025-26 to 2030-31. It aims to promote domestic production, reduce dependence on imports and pave the way for “Atmanirbhar Bharat” in pulses production.

Pulse production in India has shown significant changes over the past few years. Consistent government efforts under the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) have increased production from 19.26 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 25.238 million tonnes in 2024-25 (third advance estimate), representing an impressive growth of over 31 percent.

While this progress is commendable, there remains substantial potential to further increase production and meet the country’s growing consumption needs.

In 2023-24, India imported 4.738 million tonnes of pulses while exporting 5.94 million tonnes, highlighting opportunities for structural reforms.

This demonstrates that despite being one of the world’s largest pulse producers, India’s domestic production has sufficient room to grow to fully meet demand, making imports a necessary supplement.

With pulse imports projected to reach 4.738 million tonnes in 2023-24, the government has prioritized achieving self-sufficiency in pulses as a key national objective.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set an ambitious target of making India completely self-sufficient in pulses by December 2027, with a particular focus on tur (pigeon pea), urad (black gram), and masoor (red lentil).

The new mission strengthens this vision by aiming to meet India’s future pulse demand entirely through domestic production.

This mission is in line with Vision 2047, which emphasizes sustainable development, diversified cropping patterns, assured income, adoption of advanced technologies, and empowerment of farmers through climate-resilient agricultural practices.

The Government of India has consistently promoted pulse production through targeted initiatives over the past several decades.

From the All India Coordinated Pulses Improvement Project in 1966 to the Accelerated Pulses Production Programme (A3P) (2010-14), these initiatives were carried out to increase productivity and lay the foundation for long-term self-sufficiency.

Objective

The Mission for Self-Reliance in Pulses (2025-31) aims to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses by significantly increasing domestic production, reducing dependence on imports, and sustainably improving farmers’ incomes.

The Mission plans to expand pulse cultivation to an additional 3.5 million hectares, targeting rice paddies and other suitable lands, while promoting intercropping and crop diversification.

Furthermore, the main focus will be on the development and dissemination of high-yielding, pest-resistant, and climate-resilient pulse varieties, supported by a robust seed system.

This includes the production and distribution of 12.6 million quintals of certified seeds and the free provision of 8.8 million seed kits to farmers.

Operational Strategy for Self-Sufficiency in Pulses

To ensure effective implementation, states will prepare five-year seed production plans, with ICAR monitoring breeder seed production and maintaining quality assurance through the Saathi portal (seedtrace.gov.in).

The Mission adopts a holistic approach, integrating soil health management, mechanization, balanced fertilizer application, plant protection, and large-scale demonstrations by ICAR, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and state agriculture departments. Through these measures, the Mission envisions a resilient, self-sustaining pulse production system that can meet India’s growing domestic demand.

SATHEE – Seed Certification, Traceability, and Inventory

“SATHEE is a user-oriented, centralized portal. The portal was conceived and developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, in partnership with the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

SATHEE provides a holistic approach covering the entire seed life cycle across multiple seed generations. This approach is achieved through automation of the entire seed supply chain, from seed production to certification, licensing, seed inventory, and seed sales by certified dealers to seed producers and seed traceability”

To provide farmers with greater income security and confidence in pulses cultivation, the government will ensure assured procurement of key pulses such as tur (pigeon pea), urad, and masoor under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA).

The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India (NCCF) will ensure 100% procurement in participating states over the next four years.

This mechanism guarantees fair and timely prices, reduces market uncertainties, and encourages farmers to adopt high-value pulse crops, contributing to the broader goal of pulse self-sufficiency.

Through these coordinated efforts, the Mission envisions a robust, sustainable, and self-reliant pulse production system that will meet India’s growing domestic demand and strengthen farmers’ livelihoods.

The Mission aims to strengthen the post-harvest value chain by establishing 1,000 processing and packaging units, with subsidies of up to ₹25 lakh per unit, aimed at reducing losses, increasing value addition, and generating rural employment.

The initiative will follow a cluster-based approach recommended by NITI Aayog, which will promote efficient resource utilization and geographical diversification of pulse cultivation.

By 2030-31, the Mission aims to expand pulses cultivation to 31 million hectares, increase production to 35 million tonnes, and increase yield to 1,130 kg/hectare.

In addition to these production targets, the Mission aims to conserve foreign exchange by reducing imports, promote climate-resilient and soil-health-friendly practices, and create substantial employment opportunities, thereby ensuring nutritional security and long-term self-sufficiency in pulses.

Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)

The Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) was launched in September 2018 with the objective of providing remunerative prices for pulses, oilseeds, and copra, thereby ensuring financial stability for farmers, controlling fluctuations in post-harvest sales, and promoting crop diversification for pulses and oilseeds. In September 2024, the Cabinet approved the continuation of the integrated PM-AASHA scheme, including its key components: Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Deficit Payment Scheme (PDPS), and Market Preparatory Measures Scheme (MIS).

Recommendations of NITI Aayog

Based on inputs from 885 farmers in five major pulse-producing states: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, NITI Aayog has formulated recommendations to strengthen the pulse sector, increase productivity, and ensure sustainability.

Key measures include expanding pulse cultivation in rice fields and diversifying cropping patterns through a cluster-based approach, incentives, price assurance, and pilot projects in high-potential states.

To strengthen seed systems, NITI Aayog advocates unlocking the supply and capacity of high-quality seeds through cluster-based seed centers and models such as “One Block-One Seed Village” supported by farmer producer organizations (FPOs) to ensure timely availability of improved varieties and high-yielding seeds.

Strengthening procurement and value chains through local procurement centers and processing units will reduce middlemen, improve farmers’ incomes, and stabilize consumer prices.

Inclusion of pulses in nutrition and welfare programs such as the Public Distribution System (PDS) and mid-day meals will increase demand and address malnutrition.

The report (see NITI Aayog report here) emphasizes mechanization, efficient irrigation and bio-fertilizers for sustainable productivity, as well as pest-resistant, short-duration and climate-resilient varieties, supported by early warning systems and data-driven monitoring through the Saathi portal, to make pulses cultivation more resilient and profitable.