UP Govt intensifies efforts to increase pulses production and productivity

Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi has welcomed the decision of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to provide a symbolic cheque of Rs 125 crore to promote pulses production in the state.

He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Agriculture Minister for this special support.

Shahi said here on Sunday that this financial assistance will prove to be a milestone in achieving the state’s resolve for increasing farmers’ income, nutritional security, and self-reliance in pulses. On this occasion, he also provided detailed information on the strategy formulated to promote pulse production in UP.

The UP Agriculture Minister informed that Uttar Pradesh is currently among the top pulses-producing states in the country and ranked fourth in 2024-25 with a production of 30.82 lakh metric tonnes.

UP contributes 12 per cent to India’s total pulses production of 256.83 lakh metric tonnes. The average productivity of pulse crops in the state is 12.01 quintals per hectare, which is significantly higher than the national average of 9.26 quintals per hectare.

In 2024-25, pulses were sown on an area of 25.66 lakh hectares, which is targeted to be increased to 30.77 lakh hectares in 2025-26.

The Agriculture Minister informed that under the Pulses Self-Reliance Mission, special emphasis is being laid on the distribution of improved seeds.

In 2025-26, a total of 1,05,642 quintals of certified seeds were distributed under various schemes. Under the state government’s free seed minikit scheme, 12,413 quintals of seeds were distributed, benefiting 92,517 farmers, while 17,297 quintals of seed minikits provided by the Government of India benefited 2,04,693 farmers.

The state is also performing well in the procurement of pulses, with 75.85 thousand metric tonnes procured in 2024-25.

Discussing the future strategy, he said that intercropping with sugarcane is being promoted. A special programme is being implemented for the cultivation of lentils on 40,000 hectares during the Rabi season of 2025-26 and black gram and green gram on 100,000 hectares during the Zaid season. For this, the target is to distribute 20,000 quintals of certified black gram and green gram seeds on subsidy during Zaid 2026.

The Zaid season is a short, intermediate agricultural season occurring between the Rabi and Kharif seasons, typically from March to June.

This article has been republished from The Statesman.