Missions alone won't boost output of pulses and oilseeds, says Shivraj

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told the rabi conference that India needs policy recalibration to raise pulses and oilseeds output, not just new Missions

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday urged scientists and experts gathered for the annual rabi conference to deliberate on ways to recalibrate the export and import policies for the farm sector as just announcing ‘missions’ won’t solve the problem of low production in oilseeds and pulses.

 

India allows import of almost all pulses at zero duty, which many experts believe is pulling down domestic acreage of tur and urad as realisation has fallen.  

 

Chouhan, meanwhile, also said the mission on natural farming won’t succeed unless it is scientifically re-oriented and extension activities are re-energised.

 

“If missions alone would have pushed up production, then India would have brimming stocks of edible oils and would not have required any imports,” Chouhan said.

 

The Union Budget of 2025-26 announced the setting up of the National Mission on ‘Atmanirbharta’ in pulses with an initial allocation of ₹1,000 crore for six years.

 

The union minister, in his address, also talked about taking strict action against fake fertilizers, seeds and pesticides, while he clarified that now only those bio stimulants that meet all the criteria and standards will be sold.

 

He said nowadays there is no certainty about the weather, so officers should make efforts to get crop insurance done for as many farmers as possible.

 

“The Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme will have to be implemented properly, so that farmers get relief,” the minister said.

 

He said the ‘Vikasit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ will again run with the states and the Centre from October.

 

Senior officials of the Central and state governments, scientists of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), agricultural experts, farmer representatives and other stakeholders are participating in the two-day conference.