The North News
New Delhi, February 17
In an effort to boost domestic pulse production and reduce reliance on imports, the government has approved the procurement of tur, urad, and masur for the 2024-25 season, guaranteeing purchases equivalent to 100 percent of state production. Furthermore, this measure will continue for four more years, as confirmed in the 2025 Budget, with a goal of achieving self-sufficiency in pulses.
Sharing details, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the Government of India has approved the continuation of the integrated Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) Scheme through the 15th Finance Commission cycle, lasting until 2025-26. The initiative is designed to improve procurement operations, providing farmers with fair prices while curbing price volatility of essential goods. The Price Support Scheme (PSS) under PM-AASHA will ensure the direct purchase of notified pulses, oilseeds, and copra from registered farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP), administered by Central Nodal Agencies (CNAs).
Union Agriculture Minister Chouhan announced that procurement of Tur (Arhar) will take place in several states, including Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, for the Kharif 2024-25 season, amounting to a total of 13.22 LMT. As of February 15, 2025, 0.15 LMT has already been procured, benefiting 12,006 farmers, with more states set to begin procurement shortly. The Indian government, through agencies such as NAFED and NCCF, is committed to purchasing all of the Tur produced by farmers.
