Jun 02, 2025 07:40 AM IST

According to the most recent official information, the Centre procured 77.86 million tonnes of cereals (52.26 million tonnes of rice and 26.26 million tonnes of wheat) throughout the 2024-25 agricultural crop 12 months

Recent efforts by the Centre to ramp up output of pulses and oilseeds, which the nation imports closely, akin to procurement at minimal assist costs (MSP) have been inconsistent, as the important thing beneficiaries of MSPs proceed to be water-guzzling cereals akin to rice and wheat, newest Reserve Bank of India (RBI) figures present.

Procurement of cereals is larger as a result of foodgrains are likely to have a far bigger marketable surplus (HT Photo)

While procurement of pulses and oilseeds by the federal government has elevated by a number of occasions, it’s nonetheless far decrease than that of wheat and rice. India grows plentiful cereals, however not sufficient pulses and oilseeds, the imports of that are a key issue that stokes inflation and in addition causes a drain of treasured international alternate for normal imports

The Modi authorities has adopted a two-pronged technique to encourage farmers to develop extra lentils and oilseeds. While the federal government has persistently introduced larger MSPs for pulses and oilseeds as an incentive for farmers, in comparison with cereals, the Union cooperation in addition to the meals ministries have been urgent state-backed cooperatives to obtain this stuff from farmers.

Procurement, the cornerstone of India’s meals coverage, refers back to the authorities’s buy of meals commodities at MSPs, that are federally fastened flooring charges aimed toward providing a minimal of fifty% returns over price of cultivation.

Yet figures present that procurement of cereals far outstrips pulses or oilseeds. According to the most recent official information, the Centre procured 77.86 million tonnes of cereals (52.26 million tonnes of rice and 26.26 million tonnes of wheat) throughout the 2024-25 agricultural crop 12 months.

Compared to this, the federal government was in a position to procure solely 4.6 million tonnes of pulses and 0.6 million tonnes of oilseeds. During the winter-sown, or rabi, season of 2024-25, state businesses procured 0.43 million tonnes of pulses, particularly gram, in keeping with the just lately launched Reserve Bank of India annual report.

To make sure, procurement of cereals is larger as a result of foodgrains are likely to have a far bigger marketable surplus (complete output minus complete consumption of growers). Moreover, India additionally must stockpile giant portions of wheat and rice for distribution to almost 800 million beneficiaries underneath the National Food Security Act.

Official information present a see-sawing, inconsistent development in pulses procurement. Figures introduced in Rajya Sabha in response to an unstarred query on Dec 6, 2024 confirmed that in 2019-20, the federal government procured 2.8 million tonnes of pulses; which in 2020-21 fell to 0.81 million tonnes. In 2021-22, state businesses procured 3.3 million tonnes; in 2022-23, 2.8 million tonnes and in 2023-24, 0.69 million tonnes.

The Union Budget 2025-26 had introduced that 100% of a state’s manufacturing of pigeon pea (tur), black gram (urad) and yellow lentils (masoor) might be procured for the following 4 years until 2028-29 to realize self-sufficiency in pulses within the nation. Pulses and oilseeds are bought underneath the Centre’s value assist scheme, which falls underneath an umbrella scheme known as the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA).

“The government has signalled a commitment to substantially increase procurement of pulses. But more needs to be done for it to act as a nudge to grow more,” stated Abhishek Agrawal of UN Comtrade.