2016 : International Year of Pulses Raising Pulses Output and Arresting Price-Rise in India

Abstract

It is a blessing in a disguise that the UN General Assembly has declared the year 2016 as the International Year of Pulses at a time when Indian consumers have to pay extremely high prices for pulses. Prime Minister of India during his recent visit to Mozambique desired to promote increased cultivation of pulses in Mozambique & supply to India through bilateral agreements. There are reports of similar efforts with Myanmar. India instead this kind of arrangement should seize the opportunity of this International Year of Pulses to harness full potential for substantially enhancing the productivity per unit of resources & output of pulses in India and farmer's income therefrom. Already Government of India has two reports on pulses, viz. Report of Expert Groups [2012] & Towards Pulses Self-sufficiency in India [2016 by National Academy of Agricultural Science. On September 16, 2016 Dr Arvind Subramanian the Chief Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance submitted the Report on Incentivising Pulses Production Through Minimum Support Prices & Related Policies to the Government of India. The report aptly says" Enhancing the domestic productivity & production of pulses rapidly & sustainably is the only reliable way of minimizing volatility in pulses market & safeguarding the interest of farmers & consumers". The report deals with in details on important issues viz. MSP & Procurement, Other Price Management Policies, Institutions for Procurement-Stocking-Disposal and Minimizing Adverse Impact. It is in this context, this article briefly highlights the Government's initiatives to raise pulse productivity & output, current status of area under pulse, its productivity & production, imports, impact of technology already developed and aspects that need focused attention, among others.