Syllabus : GS– III & V: Agriculture, Food Security

Why in the news?

Assam continues to face a severe demand–supply gap in pulses, producing only about 20 per cent of its requirement, even though its agroclimatic conditions are suitable for pulse cultivation.

• The launch of the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses by the Union government has renewed focus on achieving self-sufficiency in pulses and presents a critical opportunity for Assam.

The paradox of pulses in Assam

• Assam meets barely one-fifth of its pulse requirement through local production, while 80 % is sourced from outside the region.
• This dependence leads to:
  • High retail prices due to transportation and handling costs.
  • Nutritional insecurity, especially among low-income households that cannot afford pulses as a regular protein source.
• The problem is therefore not only economic, but also related to public health and nutrition.

Key national push: Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses

• Launched in October 2025, the mission aims to make India self-reliant in pulses  by December 2027.
• Its major objectives include:
  • Increase domestic pulse production of tur, urad, and masoor.
  • Reduce dependence on imports
  • Expanding area under pulse cultivation 
  • Promoting climate-resilient seed varieties.
• Time Period: Six years, from 2025–26 to 2030–31.
• Total Financial Outlay: ₹11,440 crore.
• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India.
• Priority Crops:
  • Tur / Arhar (pigeon pea)
  • Urad (black gram)
  • Masoor (red lentil)
• Implementation Strategy: Adoption of a cluster-based approach, with interventions customised to local agro-climatic conditions and region-specific challenges.
• Target Beneficiaries: Around 2 crore farmers, who will benefit through:

• Assured and guaranteed procurement
• Access to quality and climate-resilient seeds
• Strengthened value chain and market support

• Additional Intended Outcomes:

• • Promotion of climate-resilient and soil health–friendly farming practices
  • Generation of substantial rural employment opportunities
  • Encouragement of intercropping and crop diversification to enhance farm income and sustainability

• The national target is:
  • 350 lakh tonnes of pulse production from 310 lakh hectares.
  • Average productivity target of 1,130 kilograms per hectare.

Where Assam stands

• Assam’s current pulse production is around 1.27 lakh metric tonnes, while demand by 2030–31 is projected to reach 5.5 lakh metric tonnes.
  • Assam mainly produces black gram, lentil, green gram and arhar.
• To align with national productivity targets, Assam must increase productivity by at least 400 kilograms per hectare.
• The Development Agenda and Action Plan for Sustainable Development Goals 2030, prepared by the State Agriculture Directorate, identifies:
  • Non-availability of quality local seeds as a major constraint.
  • Limited irrigation and weak extension services as persistent bottlenecks.

Untapped potential and structural challenges

• Assam has more than 10 lakh hectares of rice fallow land, offering vast scope for area expansion under pulses.
• The state has set a target to bring 3 lakh hectares under pulse cultivation by 2030–31, but:
  • Lack of assured irrigation restricts both productivity and farmer confidence.
  • Small and fragmented landholdings limit commercial-scale production.
  • Productivity gains remain incremental, not transformative.

Strategies that need urgent focus

• Assam must move beyond routine schemes and adopt structural reforms, including:
  • Expansion of pulses in rice fallow areas, supported by irrigation.
  • Seed hubs and certified seed availability at affordable prices.
  • Effective implementation of Cluster Frontline Demonstrations through agricultural extension institutions.
  • Promotion of cooperative farming and farmer collectives to overcome land fragmentation.
  • Stronger market linkage and price signals, so farmers see pulses as a viable commercial crop.
• Reducing dependence on distant procurement will also help limit price volatility, which cannot be fully addressed even through mechanisms like buffer stock releases.

Why scaling up pulses matters

• Boosting pulse production is essential for:
  • Protein and nutritional security.
  • Reducing import dependence within the country.
  • Strengthening farm incomes and crop diversification.
  • Achieving sustainable agriculture goals in a climate-vulnerable region.

One-line wrap

For Assam, scaling up pulse production is no longer optional—it is central to food security, farmer incomes, and sustainable agricultural transformation.

Exam Hook – 

1. Discuss how rice fallow utilisation, seed security, irrigation, and cooperative farming can help Assam bridge its pulse demand–supply gap.
2. Evaluate the role of the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses in addressing regional imbalances in pulse production.
3. Examine why nutritional security should be treated as an agricultural policy objective, not merely a welfare outcome.

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