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Informist, Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2026

 

MUMBAI – The Centre has made provisions to achieve self-reliance in oilseeds by boosting acreage, productivity and production, and ensuring full support to farmers, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said in a release Tuesday. "A provision of 10,103 crore (INR 101.03 billion) has been made to achieve self-reliance in oilseeds, ensuring full support to farmers in technology, seeds, irrigation, processing, and marketing," Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in the Regional Agriculture Conference held in Jaipur Tuesday. 

 

The targets include increasing the area under cultivation from 29 million hectares to 33 million hectares, boosting productivity from 1,353 kilogram per hectare to 2,112 kg per hectare, according to the release. It also includes raising total production from 39.2 million tonnes to 69.7 million tonnes, thereby significantly reducing dependence on edible oil imports and increasing farmers' income through high-value crops, it said.

 

Meanwhile, under the Pulses Mission, all states have been directed to maximise seed production to ensure availability of quality seeds to farmers. "Financial assistance is being provided for seed production: 4,500 per quintal (INR 4,500 per 100 kg) for tur, 2,000 per quintal (INR 2,000 per 100 kg) for urad/tur, and 1,800 per quintal (INR 1,800 per 100 kg) for gram, to encourage farmers to produce high-quality seeds," according to the release. Special emphasis is being laid on rapidly bringing new pulse varieties into the seed chain, with 79 varieties identified in Rajasthan, 58 in Gujarat, 63 in Madhya Pradesh, and 58 in Maharashtra, the release said.

 

Chouhan said Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Gujarat together contribute over 60% to India's pulses production. Several districts such as Narmadapuram (Madhya Pradesh), Jhalawar and Tonk (Rajasthan), Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), and Junagadh (Gujarat) are performing exceptionally well and will be developed as model districts. Districts with lower productivity will be reviewed, and special plans will be implemented to enhance output, he said at the conference. "To strengthen processing, a large network of dal mills is being developed: 55 in Madhya Pradesh, 34 in Maharashtra, 28 in Gujarat, 30 in Rajasthan, and 5 in Goa."

 

According to the release, farmer IDs are being created rapidly across all states and a unified identity for all farmers will be established within approximately three months. This will ensure farmers receive benefits of all schemes directly and accurately.

 

The Centre is also likely to scientifically assess crop losses using satellite-based remote sensing, enabling state governments to provide relief under State Disaster Response Fund (RBC 6(4)) and ensure that insurance claims under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana are settled quickly through farmer ID, Chouhan said. At present, sufficient fertiliser stocks are available for both Kharif and Rabi crops.

 

To prevent distress sales in crops like potato, onion, and tomato, state governments will procure them directly from farmers and supply to major cities, with transportation and storage costs borne by the central government. This will ensure fair prices for farmers and reasonable prices for consumers, according to the release.  End

 

Reported by Taniva Singha Roy

Edited by Deepshikha Bhardwaj

 

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