Aatmanirbharta Mission expands cultivation and productivity, with a target of nearly 350 lakh tonnes of pulses by 2030-31.
New Delhi, October 2026 : India’s total pulse production increased to 274.09 lakh tonnes in 2025-26 from 256.83 lakh tonnes in the previous financial year, supported by the government’s Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses. The initiative has also coincided with a substantial reduction in imports and an increase in exports, according to an official factsheet issued on Sunday.
The value of India’s pulse imports declined by 31.52 per cent, falling from Rs 46,427.60 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 31,793.59 crore in 2025-26. Meanwhile, pulse exports rose by 13.4 per cent, increasing from USD 855 million to USD 969.53 million during the same period. Export volumes reached 10.01 lakh tonnes, with China, the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, the United States and Sri Lanka emerging as major destinations.
The area under pulse cultivation expanded from 277.20 lakh hectares in 2024-25 to 286.46 lakh hectares in 2025-26. The increase followed the launch of the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses on October 11 last year, which aims to strengthen domestic production and reduce dependence on imported pulses.
Productivity also improved during the period. Average pulse yield increased from 926 kg per hectare in 2024-25 to 957 kg per hectare in 2025-26, reflecting gains in output per unit of cultivated land.
Launched with a financial outlay of Rs 11,440 crore, the mission seeks to raise annual pulse production to nearly 350 lakh tonnes and increase productivity to 1,130 kg per hectare by 2030-31.
The programme places particular emphasis on tur, urad and masoor, while promoting climate-resilient seed varieties and improving seed quality. Over six years, it envisages distributing 87.5 lakh free seed kits and 126 lakh quintals of certified seeds to support farmers and encourage wider adoption of improved varieties.
Implementation follows a cluster-based approach covering 489 districts to intensify cultivation and improve production. The mission also provides for assured procurement of tur, urad and masoor at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) through the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), for willing and registered farmers.
Major pulse-producing states include Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.
India is the world’s largest producer of pulses, which contain approximately 20–25 per cent protein—more than twice the amount found in wheat and nearly three times that in rice. Besides supporting nutritional security, pulses contribute to agricultural exports and provide an important source of protein in Indian diets.
The latest figures highlight progress in domestic production and trade. The mission’s longer-term success will depend on sustaining productivity gains, improving seed availability and ensuring reliable market access for farmers.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
