In a bold move towards achieving self-reliance in pulses, Union Minister Amit Shah orchestrated a strategic collaboration with agricultural cooperatives NAFED and NCCF. The primary focus of this initiative was to guarantee fixed prices for pulse farmers throughout India. Shah not only emphasized this commitment but also implemented two crucial measures to empower farmers.
Firstly, farmers were granted the freedom to sell their produce in the open market if they received better rates, even after registering with cooperative bodies. There was no obligatory agreement; instead, Shah underscored the assurance that NAFED-NCCF would step in if other markets failed, stressing the term “Modi kee Guarantee.”
Ritesh Chauhan, Managing Director of NAFED, assured the Minister that while 2000 members of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and cooperative societies were present at Vigyan Bhawan, hundreds of thousands were participating through live streaming.
Besides the farmers, several top co-operators such as Dileep Sanghani, Dr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, Paresh Patel, Ajay Rai and board members of both NAFED and NCCF were present. NAFED Vice Chairman, Sunil Singh, whose last meeting with Shah was made controversial by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, was conspicuous by his absence.
To achieve these objectives, Shah launched a portal developed by NAFED and NCCF for the registration,
Shah highlighted the portal’s potential to enable farmers to register in advance through NAFED and NCCF, facilitating the sale of tur dal and ensuring payments at Minimum Support Price (MSP) or above through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Present at the event were Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, MoS Consumer Affairs Minister Ashwini Choubey, MoS B. L. Verma, and three secretaries.
Shah expressed the vision of achieving self-sufficiency in green gram (moong) and gram (chana). He mentioned the collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Cooperation, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other stakeholders to overcome obstacles hindering this goal.
Underlining the significance of pulse production, Shah emphasized its role in addressing malnutrition and land reclamation due to its ability to improve soil quality. He acknowledged the concern over falling groundwater levels in many regions and stressed the need for water-efficient pulse cultivation.
Shah announced the scientific design of the portal, integrating Aadhaar verification, unique farmer IDs, land records, and Aadhaar-based payments. Efforts were underway to connect the portal with warehousing agencies in real-time, addressing the cooperative sector’s growing role in warehousing.
Within a short period, 537 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and numerous FPOs joined the portal. Shah highlighted the enthusiastic response from states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and others, with 480 PACS and FPOs expressing interest in joining the platform.
Shah envisioned a future where, with the efforts of pulse farmers, India would not only achieve self-sufficiency but also become a pulse exporter through the recently established Export Co-op. The Minister detailed the establishment of 150 seed centers in collaboration with ICAR and IIPR, Kanpur, aimed at enhancing pulse quality and production.
Shah anticipated that this revolution would not only boost nutrition and self-reliance but also lower pulse prices for consumers. The concept of ‘Bharat Dal’ through NCCF and NAFED was introduced, with plans to deliver pulses under this brand nationwide. Within seven months, Bharat Dal had become the best-selling brand.
In conclusion, Shah envisioned a future where farmers’ fields would not only grow crops but also contribute significantly to ethanol production, aligning with the larger goal of achieving sustainability and self-sufficiency in India’s agricultural landscape.
