PULSE PORTAL

13.01.2024

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Why in the  news?

Recently, a PULSE portal has been launched by the government to buy pulses directly from farmers at support prices.

ABOUT PULSE PORTAL:

• The government launched a new portal where farmers can register and sell their produce directly to the central agencies at the minimum support price.
• The launch of the portal has led to a spike in consumer prices which were 18% higher year-on-year in November 2023.
• The Centre hopes that the promise of assured purchase at MSP will get farmers to plant more pulses and thus help cut down the imports.
• India expects to be a net exporter of pulses by the end 2027.

CURRENT STATUS OF INDIA’S PULSES PRODUCTION:

• The total pulses production in India has increased from 8347 thousand tons to 25,416 thousand tons from 1950 to 2019.
• The total production of pulses such as tur, urad and other lentils was estimated to be around 28 million metric tons in 2023.
• This was an overall improvement in production from the financial year 2002 across the south Asian country.
• India is the largest producer (25% of global production), largest consumer (27% of world consumption) and largest importer (14%) of pulses in the world.
• Pulses account for 7-10 per cent of the total foodgrains production in the country and around 20 percent of the area under food grains is under pulses production.
• Though pulses are grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons but Rabi pulses contribute more than 60 per cent of the total production.

STATUS OF SUPPLY SHORTAGES:

• In the last few years, the production of pulses was estimated at 27-28 million tonnes.
• The imports were around 2.5 million tonnes in 2022-23.
• The shortfall of pulses is largely in varieties like arhar, where lower production led to a surge in prices and imports.
• Other than arhar, India also imports black gram and lentils.

• The government has allowed duty free import of pigeon peas, black gram and lentils till March 2025 to increase the domestic availability and lower retail prices.
• A higher supply of imported pulses can help lowering down local prices but it can further dissuade farmers from increasing the area under cultivation.

                                               Source:Economic Times