Extra Rs 80cr to boost pulses production in rabi season

Concerned over low output of pulses and decrease in the sowing area this kharif season, the government has earmarked additional Rs 80 crore to help states increase the acreage under the staple foodgrain during the approaching rabi season.

"The agriculture ministry has earmarked an additional fund of Rs 80 crore to the states to encourage them to increase the area under pulses in the upcoming rabi season (October-April),"an official told media. The allocation is in addition to the government's flagship programme National Food Security Mission (NFSM), the official added. India imports a large quantity of pulses to meet the requirement of 18-19 million tonne annually. The country had imported 2.6 million tonne of pulses in 2010-11. As per the ministry's sowing data, as on August 16 this year, area under pulses shrank 9% to 106.76 lakh hectares, from 117.41 lakh hectare in the year-ago period. According to the official, the decision to launch such a scheme was taken after a meeting of the ministry with the states earlier this month on the status of pulses production. Under the scheme, states have been asked to send a status report on the viability of sowing pulses in the rabi season and the inputs that they will require, the official added. "We have received reports from most of the states and the allocation of funds to them will start shortly,"the official said. The ministry has also recommended states to go for inter- cropping and use of hi-quality seeds, assuring them of help in this regard, the official added. Government has been implementing NFSM on pulses in 16 major producing states. In the 2010-11 Budget, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had allocated Rs 300 crore to promote dry land farming in 60,000 pulses and oilseeds areas across the country. The scheme has been continued in current fiscal as well. Concerned over low output of pulses and oilseeds, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), had asked the ministry last week to go for specialised farming of these commodities in 60,000 clusters each and directed scientists to develop high-yielding varieties in two years.