Sharp Decline in Pulse Prices:
In the past year, there has been a significant drop in the prices of pulse crops. Prices of chana (gram) have fallen by 4.37%, masoor (lentils) by 7.06%, moong (green gram) by 13.91%, arhar (pigeon pea) by 25.37%, and urad (black gram) by 26.79%. This drastic price reduction raises the pressing question: How will India become self-sufficient in pulse production if farmers do not receive fair prices for their produce?
India imports pulses worth ₹31,000 crore every year, but domestic farmers are not receiving fair prices for their crops. Currently, the prices of masoor, moong, arhar, and urad have fallen below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The government has promised to purchase 100% of farmers' produce, but despite this assurance, prices in the market continue to fall.
Farmer leader Anil Ghanwat highlights that the government is focusing on increasing pulse imports, even removing import duties. As a result, cheaper pulses are flooding the domestic market, causing a downward pressure on prices and leaving farmers unable to get fair compensation for their produce.
Anil Ghanwat, from Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, shared that he sold his arhar at ₹6,600 per quintal, while the MSP was ₹7,600 per quintal. Farmers had hoped that the price of arhar would exceed ₹9,000 per quintal, but instead, they suffered losses.
Price Drop Data for Pulses:
| Crop | MSP | Price on 8th February 2025 | Price One Year Ago | Price Two Years Ago | Price Decline (%) (1 Year) | Price Decline (%) (2 Years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moong | ₹8,682 | ₹7,306.32 | ₹8,487.56 | ₹7,533.68 | -13.91% | -3.01% |
| Arhar | ₹7,550 | ₹7,141.81 | ₹9,569.70 | ₹6,908.06 | -25.37% | 3.38% |
| Urad | ₹7,400 | ₹6,754.01 | ₹9,226.28 | ₹6,828.31 | -26.79% | -1.08% |
| Chana | ₹5,440 | ₹5,801.66 | ₹6,066.90 | ₹4,843.96 | -4.37% | 19.77% |
| Masoor | ₹6,425 | ₹5,547.85 | ₹5,969.55 | ₹6,216.11 | -7.06% | -10.75% |
India and Pulse Production:
India is the largest producer of pulses in the world, accounting for 28% of global pulse production and 38% of the total area under pulse cultivation. However, India still needs to import pulses as domestic production is insufficient to meet demand.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), India's average pulse productivity in 2022 was 766 kg per hectare, while the global average was 1,015 kg per hectare.
The major pulse-producing states in India include Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
India grows chana on approximately 10 million hectares and arhar (pigeon pea) on about 4.7 million hectares.
To promote pulse production in India, it is essential that farmers receive fair prices for their crops. The government needs to rethink its import policy and prioritize the interests of domestic farmers. Without fair compensation, farmers may distance themselves from pulse cultivation, and India could become increasingly reliant on foreign imports instead of becoming self-sufficient in pulse production.
