15 Dec 2025
Pulses are central to India’s food security and nutrition, serving as a primary source of protein for large sections of the population, particularly in rural areas. Yet, despite being one of the world’s largest pulse producers, India continues to face a structural deficit. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), average protein intake in the country remains well below the WHO-recommended 0.8–1 gram per kilogram of body weight, even as awareness of balanced diets and protein-rich foods grows. Pulses, which contain 20–25 percent protein by weight, are therefore critical to bridging this gap.
Although India accounts for around 27 percent of global pulse production, it still imports 5–7 million tonnes (MT) annually—more than 20 percent of its domestic requirement. With annual consumption estimated at 25–28 MT, India is the world’s largest consumer of pulses, and demand is expected to rise further with population growth.
Policy Push for Self-Sufficiency
Against this backdrop, the government has intensified efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses. On October 11, 2025, it launched the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025–26 to 2030–31) with a financial outlay of ₹11,440 crore. The mission targets an increase in pulse production to 35 MT and an expansion of cultivated area to 310 lakh hectares by 2030–31.
A cornerstone of the initiative is the government’s commitment to 100 percent procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) of three key pulses—tur (pigeon pea), urad (black gram), and masoor (lentil)—that meet Fair Average Quality (FAQ) norms. Procurement will be carried out over the next four years under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) through digital platforms such as NAFED’s e-Samridhi and NCCF’s e-Samyukti portals. These three pulses together account for roughly 30 percent of total pulse production, or about 7–8 MT annually.
Ground-Level Constraints
While the policy intent has been widely welcomed, industry participants and farmer leaders caution that translating a 100 percent procurement promise into reality will be difficult.
Experts point to persistent infrastructure gaps, including inadequate procurement centres, limited storage capacity, insufficient manpower, and logistical bottlenecks. These shortcomings often result in long queues, short procurement windows, and high transportation costs, discouraging farmer participation.
“Achieving complete procurement requires substantial funding and strong infrastructure. The larger issue is what happens after procurement. Stocks ultimately go to dal millers, but if imports are cheaper, why would millers buy domestically procured pulses at MSP?” asked Anil Ghanwat, President of the Maharashtra-based Shetkari Sanghatana.
Recalling the 2015–16 season, Ghanwat noted that despite a bumper crop, the government imported pulses from Mozambique and procured less than 30 percent of Maharashtra’s output. “Farmers were forced to protest as shortages of packing material, storage facilities, staff, and weighing machines repeatedly disrupted procurement. For this mission to succeed, arrangements must be robust at the tehsil level,” he said.
Quality, Access, and Digital Barriers
Quality assessment remains another major hurdle. According to farmer representatives, produce is frequently rejected due to moisture content or minor impurities, forcing growers into distress sales in the open market.
Although nearly 50 million farmers are engaged in pulse cultivation nationwide, fewer than one-third benefit from procurement schemes. Only registered farmers can sell at MSP through the designated digital portals, leaving many excluded due to limited digital literacy, complex registration processes, and high transportation costs.
In Parliament in February 2025, Union Minister Amit Shah stated that 19.39 million farmers were registered for procurement—1.26 million on NCCF’s e-Samyukti platform and 0.68 million on NAFED’s e-Samridhi portal—highlighting the gap between cultivators and beneficiaries.
Procurement Performance Gaps
Recent procurement outcomes underscore these challenges. Last year, the government set a target to procure 1.35 MT of tur, but managed to buy only around 0.65 MT. Bimal Kothari, Chairman of the India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), noted that even the initial target represented just 30 percent of the estimated 4 MT produced, with actual procurement amounting to only 15 percent of total output.
Outlook
While the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses marks a significant policy step, experts stress that self-sufficiency will require more than assured MSP procurement. Addressing infrastructure deficits, streamlining digital access, ensuring fair quality assessments, and aligning procurement with downstream market realities will be critical. Without these reforms, India’s ambition to reduce import dependence and secure its pulse economy may remain difficult to achieve.