Bhopal, February 7: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will chair the National pulses conference at the Food Legumes Research Platform (FLRP) in Amala, Sehore district, Madhya Pradesh. The seminar aims to accelerate efforts to make India self-reliant in pulses.
The day-long event will commence at 9:30 AM on Saturday, with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav attending as a special guest.
Agriculture ministers from major pulse-producing states, including Odisha, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, have confirmed their participation.
This conference will focus on the ‘National Mission for Self-Reliance in Pulses,’ discussing strategies to enhance production and productivity, improve seed quality, add value to pulses, and increase farmers’ income.
Officials stated, “The event will feature scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), farmers, farmer producer organizations, seed producers, policymakers, and industry representatives.”
During the program, Minister Chouhan and Chief Minister Yadav will jointly inaugurate state-of-the-art research laboratories and training facilities at the FLRP, which serves as a key center for pulse research.
Minister Chouhan will also inspect ongoing field trials and engage directly with farmers to understand grassroots challenges.
A key highlight will be the launch of a dedicated ‘Pulses Mission Portal,’ which will serve as a digital platform for real-time monitoring of production, procurement, and distribution under the mission.
Improved, high-yielding varieties of arhar, chana, lentils, and other pulses developed by ICAR institutions will be formally released and distributed to progressive farmers during the event.
Speaking before the conference, officials noted that this initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant India in pulses, prosperous farmers, and a protein-secure nation.
Despite being the largest producer globally, India currently imports significant quantities of pulses. This mission aims to achieve complete self-reliance by 2027 through area expansion, productivity enhancement, and better price realization for farmers.
The Sehore conference is expected to finalize a timely action plan involving both central and state governments to achieve these ambitious goals.