Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will lead the National Pulses Conference at the Food Legumes Research Platform (FLRP) in Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore district of Amlaha. The conference aims to boost India’s self-reliance in pulses. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will attend as a special guest at the day-long event starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Agriculture Ministers from key pulses-producing states like Odisha, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana will participate. The conference will center on the “National Mission for Pulses Self-Reliance,” focusing on increasing production and productivity, enhancing seed quality, adding value to pulses, and improving farmers’ income.
The event will include scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), farmers, farmer producer organizations, seed producers, policymakers, and industry representatives. Union Minister Chouhan and Chief Minister Yadav will jointly inaugurate advanced research labs and training facilities at FLRP, a leading center for pulses research.
Union Minister Chouhan will also visit ongoing field trials and engage directly with farmers to grasp the challenges they face at the grassroots level. The launch of the dedicated “Pulses Mission portal” during the conference will provide a digital platform for real-time monitoring of production, procurement, and distribution under the mission.
Improved high-yielding varieties of pigeon pea, chickpea, lentil, and other pulses developed by ICAR institutes will be officially released and distributed to progressive farmers at the event. The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in pulses, prosperous farmers, and a protein-secure nation, officials stated.
India, despite being the largest global producer, currently imports a significant amount of pulses. The mission aims for complete self-sufficiency by 2027 through expanding areas, enhancing productivity, and ensuring better price realization for farmers. The Sehore conference is anticipated to establish a time-bound action plan involving Central and state governments to achieve these ambitious goals.
