Pulses import jumps 90% in FY24 to 47.38 lakh tonnes

New Delhi: India's import of pulses rose 90 per cent annually to 47.38 lakh tonnes during 2023-24 to meet domestic demand, the government informed Parliament.

"All India production of pulses has increased from 163.23 lakh tonnes during 2015-16 to 244.93 lakh tonnes during 2023-24 (as per 3rd Advance Estimates)," the Minister of State for Agriculture Ram Nath Thakur said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

In 2021-22, import of pulses stood at 26.99 lakh tonnes, while exports were at 3.87 lakh tonnes. During 2022-23, imports of pulses stood at 24.96 lakh tonnes, while exports were 7.62 lakh tonnes. In 2023-24, the imports of pulses were 47.38 lakh tonnes and exports stood at 5.94 lakh tonnes.

"During the last ten years i.e. 2014-15 to 2023-24 (as per 3rd Advance Estimates), total pulses and oilseeds production has increased by 43 per cent and 44 per cent, respectively," Thakur said.

In reply to a separate question, the minister said the government has substantially enhanced the budget allocation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare from Rs 27,662.67 crore in BE (budget estimate) during 2013-14, to Rs 1,25,035.79 crore BE during 2023-24.

Answering another query, Thakur said the National Commission on Farmers (NCF), constituted under the Chairmanship of MS Swaminathan in 2004, inter alia, recommended that Minimum Support Price (MSPs) should be at least 50 per cent more than the weighted average cost of production.

"To give effect to this recommendation, the government, in its Union Budget for 2018-19, had made an announcement to keep MSP at a level of minimum one and half times of the cost of production as a pre-determined principle. "Accordingly, MSPs for all mandated Kharif, Rabi and other commercial crops have been fixed with a margin of at least 50 per cent over weighted average cost of production," he said.

Based on the 'Draft National Policy for Farmers', submitted by the Swaminathan Commission, which contained major recommendations of the Commission, the government approved the 'National Policy for Farmers in 2007' (NPF 2007), which aimed to improve economic viability of farming and increase net income of farmers.