Contingency Plan to Produce 2.78 million tonne Additional Pulses in Rabi 2011-12

Government has prepared a contingency plan for additional production of pulses in Rabi 2011-12 through area expansion and productivity enhancement. Pulses covered under the scheme are pigeon pea, gram, pea and lentil.  It is targeted to achieve an additional production of Rs. 2.78 MT during the ensuing Rabi season and offset the loss of Kharif season. Additional allocation of Rs. 80 crore has been made for this purpose under NFSM- Pulsesprogramme.

State-wise allocation of additional funds for increasing crop production and productivity of pulses are as under:

Gujarat and Tamil Nadu will meet the expenses of additional area expansion from their normal allocation under NFSM-Pulses.

                As per the current coverage of area under pulses during Kharif2011, there is a shortfall of 10.89 lakh hectare as against area coverage during last Kharif season. Less acreage during Kharif 2011 may lead to shortfall of 0.70 MT as per 1^st Advance Estimates of Production.

                The production and productivity of pulses have increased during last three-four years from 14.20 MT in 2006-07 to 14.66 MT during 2009-10. Likewise the productivity of pulses has also increased from 612kg/ha during 2006-07 to 630 kg/ha during 2009-10. As per 4^th Advance Estimates of Crop Production, the production of pulses has increased from 14.66 MT (2009-10) to 18.09 MT during 2010-11. Productivity of pulses has also increased from 630 kg/ha during 2009-10 to 689 kg/ha during 2010-11.

MP:SB:CP: contingency plan (26.9.2011)