Context:
Several new initiatives like Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses has been announced for the agrarian sector in the Union Budget 2025-26.
Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana:
- Inspired by the Aspirational Districts Programme
- Coverage – Targets 100 districts with low productivity, moderate crop intensity, and below-average credit parameters.
- Budget – No separate allocation has been made
- Expected to implement through the convergence of existing schemes and specialised measures
- Focus Areas –
- Enhancing agricultural productivity.
- Promoting crop diversification and sustainable practices.
- Expanding post-harvest storage at Panchayat and Block levels.
- Improving irrigation facilities.
- Facilitating access to both long-term and short-term credit.
Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses:
- Duration – 6-year
- Special focus on Tur, Urad, and Masoor pulses.
- Key Priorities –
- Development of climate-resilient seeds.
- Increasing protein content in pulses.
- Improving post-harvest storage and management.
- Procurement – Central agencies (NAFED and NCCF) will procure these 3 pulses from registered farmers
Source: IE
Previous Year Question
With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements:
1. Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crop.
2. Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production.
3. In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production of Rabi pulses has decreased.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Statement 2 is not correct: Gram is the most dominant pulse but only with a share of around 40 percent in the total production followed by Tur/Arhar at 15 to 20 percent and Urad/Black Matpe and Moong at around 8-10 percent each.
Statement 3 is not correct: The production of pulses for both Rabi and Kharif seasons has increased in the last three decades.
