Recently approved by the Union cabinet, the 6-year Mission for Aatmanirbhar in Pulses from 2025-26 to 2030-31, with a financial outlay of Rs 11,440 crore, seeks to achieve self-sufficiency in this protein-rich legume. The mission will adopt a comprehensive strategy covering research, seed systems, area expansion, procurement and price stability.

India is the world’s largest producer, processor and consumer of pulses. With production growth trailing demand growth, import volumes have been expanding. The year 2024-25 witnessed a record import of about 7 million tonnes, representing close to 30 per cent of the 25.2 million tonnes domestic production and 50 per cent higher imports than the previous year’s 4.7 million tonnes. Will the self-sufficiency mission deliver?

Historically, to augment domestic supplies and contain price rises, India started to import pulses in the early 1980s. On multiple occasions in recent years, policymakers talked about becoming Aatmanirbhar or achieving self-sufficiency in pulses.

Aatmanirbhar has remained elusive, not for want of intention but for lack of strategy. Rather than improving, the situation has gotten worse. The area under pulse cultivation has declined from the recent peak of 31.0 million hectares in 2021-22 to 28.9 million hectares the following year and further down to 27.5 million hectares in 2023-24 and stagnated in 2024-25.

Along with the area, production too has shown a declining trend. From 27.3 million tonnes in 2021-2022, the output declined to 26.1 million tonnes the following year and moved further down to 24.2........

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