Union Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed the Rajya Sabha that the government’s priority is not power, but the holistic development of farmers, villages, and the poor. He emphasized that farmers are not only food providers but life sustainers, and said that initiatives such as AIF, MSP, the Pulses Self-Reliance Mission, PM-KUSUM, crop residue management, and crop diversification are delivering measurable improvements at the grassroots level.
The minister stated that investments exceeding ₹1 lakh crore under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund have enabled the creation of large-scale farm facilities nationwide. These include 44,243 Custom Hiring Centres, 25,854 Primary Processing Centres, 25,565 Farm Harvest Automation Units, 17,779 warehouses, 4,201 sorting and grading units, 3,549 smart agriculture infrastructure projects, and 2,827 cold storages. As a result, wastage of fruits, vegetables, and grains has declined by about 5%–15%, helping farmers secure better market prices.
He noted that agricultural reforms are being implemented evenly across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and the rest of India. In Punjab alone, 32,014 proposals were received under AIF. Against an initial target of ₹7,425.98 crore, projects worth ₹11,351.54 crore were approved, strengthening storage, processing, and mechanization while generating direct employment for an average of four to nine people per project.
Minimum Support Price, the minister said the government fixes MSP at 50% above production cost. He highlighted that pulses procurement has risen sharply from about 0.6 million metric tons over a decade earlier to roughly 19.2 million metric tons in recent years. To ensure 100% procurement of tur, masoor, and urad, agencies such as NAFED and NCCF have been authorized, while other pulses will be procured under PM-AASHA. Payments are transferred directly to farmers’ bank accounts through DBT for transparency and speed.
The minister explained that although pulses occupied about 38% of cultivated area, their share in production was only 28% due to low productivity, outdated seeds, and climate risks. Until 2016, India was the world’s largest importer of pulses. With improved technologies, better seed varieties, scientific research, and policy support, output rose significantly, reaching a record 27.30 million tons in 2021-22.
Support Measures to Increase Farmer Profitability:
Under the Pulses Self-Reliance Mission, provisions include development of high-quality seeds, higher seed replacement rates, farmer training, cluster-based cultivation, free mini-kits, demonstration plots, subsidies of up to ₹10,000 per hectare, transparent procurement systems, and assistance of up to ₹2.5 million for setting up dal mills. These measures aim to lower production costs and enhance farm incomes.
Expansion of Multi-Cropping in Madhya Pradesh: He added that in Madhya Pradesh, areas that once produced only a single crop are now growing up to three crops annually, including moong. Improved irrigation and policy support have enabled summer moong production to reach nearly 2 million metric tons. Farmers are benefiting from transparent procurement and price-deficiency payment schemes, and the government aims to make the country fully self-reliant in pulses by 2030-31.
FAQs:
Q1. What is the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)?
The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund is a central scheme providing financial support for post-harvest infrastructure like warehouses, cold storages, and processing units.
Q2. How does Minimum Support Price benefit farmers?
Minimum Support Price ensures farmers receive at least 50% above production cost, protecting them from price fluctuations.
Q3. What is the goal of the Pulses Self-Reliance Mission?
The Pulses Self-Reliance Mission aims to make India self-sufficient in pulses production by improving productivity and procurement systems.
Q4. How are MSP payments made to farmers?
Payments are transferred directly to farmers’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Q5. How is Madhya Pradesh contributing to pulses growth?
Madhya Pradesh has expanded multi-cropping and summer moong cultivation, significantly increasing pulses production.
