Pulses Convention-2024

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED)?
• What is Global Pulses Confederation (GPC)?
• Pulse production in India
• Government Programme w.r.t. Pulses in India
• Key highlights of the speech

Why in news?

• Recently, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda participated in the Pulses Convention-2024 organised by the Global Pulses Confederation (GPC) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED).
• The convention's themes include strategies for India's self-sufficiency in pulse production, enhancing trade and sales, and networking opportunities..

National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED)

• About
  • NAFED is an organization that deals with marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce in India.
  • It was established in October 1958 under the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act.
  • NAFED is an apex organization under the Ministry of Agriculture.
• Objectives
  • NAFED's objectives include organizing, promoting, and developing marketing, processing, and storage of agricultural, horticultural, and forest produce.
  • It also provides information about internal trade, consumer marketing, organic farming, agro-commodities, and more.
• Members
  • Agricultural farmers are the main members of NAFED, who have the authority to say in the form of members of the General Body in the working of NAFED.

Global Pulses Confederation (GPC)

• GPC is a non-profit organization that represents the entire pulse industry value chain.
• The GPC's headquarters are in Dubai.
• The GPC's partnership with the FAO aims to promote the sustainable production, consumption, and international trade of pulses.

Pulse production in India

• Pulses
  • Pulses are annual leguminous crops yielding between 1- 12 grains or seeds of variable size, shape and color within a pod, used for both food and feed.
  • The term pulses is limited to crops harvested solely for dry grain, thereby excluding crops harvested green for food, which are classified as vegetable crops.
  • Besides serving as an important source of protein for a large portion of the global population, pulses contribute to healthy soils and climate change mitigation through their nitrogen-fixing properties.
• Climate Requirement
  • Pulse crops are cultivated in Kharif, Rabi and Zaid seasons of the Agricultural year.
    • Rabi crops require mild cold climate during sowing period, during vegetative to pod development cold climate and during maturity / harvesting warm climate.
    • Similarly, Kharif pulse crops require warm climate throughout their life from sowing to harvesting. Summer pulses are habitants of warm climate.
  • Seed is required to pass many stages to produce seed like germination, seedling, vegetative, flowering, fruit setting, pod development and grain maturity / harvesting.
• Pulses Production in India:
  • 
  • India is the largest producer (25% of global production), consumer (27% of world consumption) and importer (14%) of pulses in the world.
  • Pulses account for around 20 per cent of the area under foodgrains and contribute around 7-10 per cent of the total foodgrains production in the country.
  • Rabi pulses contribute more than 60 per cent of the total production.
  • Gram is the most dominant pulse followed by Tur/Arhar and Urad/Black Matpe and Moong.

Government Programme w.r.t. Pulses in India

• Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Pulse.
• It has been launched with the objectives of increasing production through area expansion and productivity enhancement.
  • Under NFSM-Pulses, assistance is given through States/UTs to the farmers for interventions like cluster demonstrations on improved package, demonstrations on cropping system, seed production and distribution of HYVs/hybrids, etc.
• In order to increase the productivity potential of pulses crops in the country, the ICAR is undertaking basic and strategic research on these crops.
  • The idea is to develop location-specific high yielding varieties and match production packages.
  • During 2014-2023, 343 high yielding varieties/hybrids of Pulses have been notified for commercial cultivation in the country.
• Further to ensure remunerative prices to farmers, Government implements an umbrella scheme PM-AASHA comprising Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) and Private Procurement Stockist Scheme (PPSS) in order to ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers for their produce of notified oilseeds, pulses and copra.

Key highlights of the speech

• Self-reliance in pulse production
  • India has become self-reliant in chickpeas and many other pulse crops.
  • Consistent efforts are being made to attain self-sufficiency in pulses by 2027.
• Increased production
  • The production of pulses has increased from the initial level of 16.32 million metric tonnes during the period 2015-16 to 26 million metric tonnes now.
• Bharat Brand
  • In a short span of time, “Bharat Chana Dal” has captured 25% of India’s market for gram pulses.
    • The Bharat Brand is a label launched by the government to provide foodgrains and other essential goods at a subsidised price.
    • The government had launched Bharat Atta and Bharat Dal for retail sales under the Bharat Brand earlier.
    • Both products have rapidly gained a significant market share due to their low prices.
    • Products of the Bharat Brand are priced significantly lower than those of the other market players.

Q1) What is Bharat Brand?

The Bharat Brand is a label launched by the government to provide foodgrains and other essential goods at a subsidised price. The government had launched Bharat Atta and Bharat Dal for retail sales under the Bharat Brand earlier.

Q2) What is Minimum Support Price (MSP)?

Minimum Support Price (MSP) is the lowest price at which the government buys agricultural products from farmers. The government sets the MSP to protect farmers from large price drops during bumper production years. It also helps farmers avoid losses and ensures they receive a minimum income for their produce, especially during times of market fluctuations.

Source: Efforts being made to attain self-sufficiency in pulses by 2027: Munda | ForbesIndia | Global Pulse Confederation