Govt helps to raise production of pulses, oilseeds with implementation of crop development schemes

NEW DELHI: In an effort to boost production of pulses and oilseeds through area expansion and enhancement in productivity, the government has implemented several crop development schemes/prorammes and also strengthened the National Food Security Mission, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries Harish Rawat informed the Rajya Sabha.

Various crop development schemes were implemented such as National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Macro Management of Agriculture, Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm & Maize (ISOPOM), etc.

With the merger of pulses component of ISOPOM and inclusion of two new potential States, namely Assam and Jharkhand, National Food Security Mission has been modified from April, 2010.

Besides above mentioned schemes, a new programme 'Accelerated Pulse Production Programme (A3P)' in the form of block demonstrations has been started under NFSM since 2010-11 to take up the active propagation of key technologies for improving productivity of pulses.

Block demonstrations and Integrated Pest Management demonstrations have been organised through State Department of Agriculture and Front Line Demonstrations through ICAR, in order to disseminate information on improved production technologies amongst the farmers.