New Delhi, April 12 (NationPress) The Finance Ministry emphasized on Sunday that it had issued an advisory to states aimed at aligning their bonus policies to enhance the promotion of pulses, oilseeds, and millets, in accordance with the national goals for nutritional security, self-reliance, and the necessity to diminish import reliance. This was not a directive as claimed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

In a recent address, Chief Minister Stalin referred to a letter from the Ministry's Department of Expenditure regarding the bonuses allocated by state governments.

“In this regard, it is noted that the Secretary of the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, had sent a D.O. letter on January 9, 2026, to the Chief Secretaries of various states urging them to align their bonus policies to favor pulses, oilseeds, and millets, aligning with national priorities for nutritional security, Aatmanirbharta, and sustainable agriculture. This communication was intended as an advisory, not as a mandate,” the Finance Ministry clarified in its statement.

The purpose of the letter was to encourage states to synchronize their agricultural policies with larger national objectives, which is a mutual responsibility that benefits farmers, consumers, and the nation as a whole, the statement indicated.

“Any attempts to mischaracterize it as an imposition or to misinterpret its intent is a misrepresentation of the facts,” the statement continued.

The Centre sets the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for numerous crops to assist farmers. However, in many states, particularly in northern India, crop production is heavily biased towards wheat and paddy. When state governments declare additional bonuses beyond the MSP for these crops, it further promotes their cultivation, which can lead to reduced acreage for pulses, oilseeds, and millets, increased environmental strain due to intensive farming practices, and greater dependency on imports for essential crops like pulses and edible oilseeds.

Therefore, the Centre has adopted a proactive approach aimed at fostering greater crop diversification in the national interest. The overarching goal is to mitigate the monoculture of wheat in certain northern regions and paddy in various states throughout India, by motivating states to pursue sustainable agricultural practices that safeguard both farmers’ interests and the nation’s food security requirements, the statement added.

Boosting domestic production of pulses, edible oils, and oilseeds is crucial not only for strategic and economic reasons but also for the welfare of farmers. Increasing local production of these crops will lessen our reliance on imports, which are often subject to international volatility, supply chain disruptions, and price fluctuations, while enhancing nutritional security and promoting a more balanced and resilient agricultural framework in the country.

In a time when self-sufficiency in vital food crops is increasingly critical, it is essential for both states and the Centre to collaborate towards achieving self-reliance in pulses and oilseeds.

The Centre has already implemented various initiatives to boost domestic production of pulses, oilseeds, and edible oils, including the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds, and the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oil Palm.

The government has also continually adjusted MSP increases in favor of pulses and oilseeds to motivate farmers to divert from over-focusing on a limited number of crops. The Economic Survey 2025–26 reported a decrease in reliance on imported edible oils from 63.2% in 2015–16 to 56.25% in 2023–24, indicating progress in this area. Between 2014–15 and 2024–25, the area allocated for oilseeds grew by over 18%, production increased by nearly 55%, and productivity rose by about 31%.

Thus, the Centre's strategy encompasses research, improved seed distribution, MSP-backed procurement support, processing infrastructure, and value-chain development to ensure farmer profitability. Promoting crop diversification will further enhance farmers' profitability, the statement concluded.