Description
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Context
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech announced the allocation of Rs 1,000 crore to a six-year mission — called the “Pulse Mission” — to boost the output of pulses to help achieve self-sufficiency.
Key features of the Mission
- MSP-Based Procurement: NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) and NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India) will procure pulses from farmers who register and enter into agreements.
- Aim: Ensure fair prices for farmers and stabilize market prices.
- Post-Harvest Warehousing: Focus on reducing post-harvest losses and improving storage infrastructure.
- Budget Allocation: ₹1,000 crore allocated for the mission.
Objectives:
- Achieve self-reliance in pulses production.
- Provide MSP-based procurement and post-harvest warehousing solutions.
- Reduce dependence on imports.
- Targeted Crops:
About Pulses
About Tur/Arhar
- Tur/Arhar is a legume plant that is a staple food in India.
- It is also known as pigeon pea and red gram.
- India: largest producer in the world
About Urad dal
- Urad dal also known as black gram is a lentil-like bean that is a staple of Indian cuisine.
- It is a rich source of protein and vitamins, and is used in both sweet and savory dishes.
- India is the largest producer and consumer of urad bean.
About Lentil (Masur)
- Lentil, scientifically known as Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris, is a highly nutritious pulse crop widely consumed in India and globally.
- It is commonly referred to as Masur or Malka (bold-seeded variety).
Largest producer: Canada
Sources:
INDIAN EXPRESS
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PRACTICE QUESTION
Q. The Pulse Mission announced in Union Budget aims to:
- Encourage farmers to cultivate pulses by providing market protection.
- Promote crop diversification in regions heavily dependent on wheat and rice.
- Reduce India's dependence on pulse imports by increasing domestic production.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2, and 3
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct – The Pulse Mission aims to encourage farmers to cultivate pulses by ensuring price stability and market protection.
- Statement 2 is correct – It seeks to promote crop diversification, especially in states like Punjab, where wheat and rice dominate cultivation.
- Statement 3 is correct – A major goal is to reduce pulse imports and enhance domestic production to meet India's growing demand.
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