Concerned over stagnant pulses output, the government today said a three-pronged strategy focusing on 'yield, insurance and price (YIP)' can help in boosting domestic output and attain self-sufficiency.
Pulse prices are on the rise due to fall in the domestic output by 2 million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) following deficit rains. Due to stagnant domestic output at 17-18 million tonnes, India has been importing 3-4 million tonnes.
Due to shortages, retail pulses prices have risen unabatedly for the last few months up to Rs 200 per kg, which has now moderated to Rs 180 after the government's intervention.
"In the current scenario, a three-pronged strategy focusing on yield, insurance and price (YIP) can augment domestic production of pulses, and India can attain self- sufficiency in pulses production," the government said in its mid-year economic report placed before Parliament today.
To improve yields, the government said measures need to be taken to control pests and diseases, introduce better variety of seeds, no-till cultivation in rain-fed areas to retain moisture and soil fertility.
Currently, India's yield per hectare for pulses is around 700 kg, much lower than the global yield in pulses, it added.
Suggesting weather-based price insurance for pulses, the government said the relevant insurance policy needs to be "more effective" since the climate risks faced by farmers are very high with erratic rainfall that adversely impacts pulse cultivation.
It also said generating awareness about insurance among farmers has to be the highest priority. This is because as per the 2014 NSSO data, agricultural households not aware of insurance and not insuring their pulse crops are very high at 58 per cent for urad cultivation and 49 per cent for moong.
"Therefore, it is imperative that the coverage of weather-based insurance for pulses is enhanced to bring maximum pulse farmers under the insurance scheme," it suggested.
That apart, the government emphasised on "timely" announcement of the minimum support price (MSP) of pulses, saying this is required to give greater incentives and encourage farmers to grow pulses while preventing price shocks in the retail market.
Quoting the estimates of Indian Pulses Research Institute, the government said India can overcome the shortages in pulse production if yields are increased to 6 per cent annually in seven states, which together account for three-fourths of the total pulse area in the country.
These states are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
According to the mid-term economic report, the agriculture and allied sector grew 2 per cent in the first half of 2015-16.
