Will the National Seminar on Pulses in MP Propel India Towards Self-Reliance?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bhopal, Feb 7 (NationPress) On Saturday, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will preside over the National Pulses Conference at the Food Legumes Research Platform (FLRP) located in Madhya Pradesh's Sehore district of Amlaha. This initiative is designed to bolster India's journey towards self-reliance in pulse production.
The event, beginning at 9:30 a.m., will also see Chief Minister Mohan Yadav attending as a special guest.
Ministers of Agriculture from key pulse-producing states, such as Odisha, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, are scheduled to participate in the conference.
Emphasis will be placed on the National Mission for Pulses Self-Reliance, with extensive discussions planned to enhance production and productivity, improve seed quality, add value to pulses, and increase the income of farmers.
According to officials, participants will include scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, farmers, farmer producer organizations, seed producers, policymakers, and representatives from the industry.
During the event, Union Minister Chouhan and Chief Minister Yadav will inaugurate modern research laboratories and training facilities at FLRP, a leading center for pulses research.
Union Minister Chouhan will also review ongoing field trials and engage directly with farmers to grasp the challenges they face on the ground.
A significant feature will be the introduction of the dedicated Pulses Mission portal, designed as a digital platform for real-time oversight of production, procurement, and distribution under the mission.
High-yielding varieties of pigeon pea, chickpea, lentil, and other pulses developed by ICAR institutes will be officially launched and distributed to progressive farmers during the event.
In anticipation of the conference, officials stated that this initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat in pulses, aiming for prosperous farmers and a protein-secure nation.
Despite being the largest producer of pulses globally, India still imports a substantial amount. This mission aspires to achieve complete self-sufficiency by 2027 through area expansion, productivity enhancement, and better price realization for farmers.
The Sehore conference aims to finalize a time-bound action plan involving both the central and state governments to meet these ambitious goals.