India’s agriculture sector policies in general, and pulses sector policies in particular, need a thorough review / revision, keeping in mind the current and emerging challenges.

In the Union Budget 2025-26 address, the Finance Minister talked about achieving self-sufficiency (Aatmanirbharata) in pulses over six years in a mission mode approach with a special focus on Tur/arhar (pigeon pea), Urad (black gram) and Mung (green gram).

The government’s concern is understandable, as pulse imports have been steadily rising in recent years. For the year 2024-25, it stands at an estimated 55 lakh tonnes, valued at about US $3 billion.

Despite having the world’s largest area for pulse cultivation (290-300 lakh hectares) in two seasons, kharif and rabi, and being ranked as the world’s largest producer, processor and consumer, the current status of the pulse sector in India leaves much to be desired. Substantial improvement is possible in production, processing, consumption and trade.

This is not to take away any credit from the decent work done over decades, but to highlight that a lot more was indeed possible in order to make the sector globally competitive.

What characterises the Indian pulses sector at present is a combination of low yields, unstable production, price volatility, inefficient........

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