New Delhi, Mar 17: The Union Cabinet has approved the ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’ with an outlay of ₹11,440 crore, under which Jammu & Kashmir has been allocated five processing units and identified as part of two focus districts aimed at boosting pulses production and achieving self-sufficiency by 2030–31.
The centrally sponsored scheme, approved on October 1, 2025, will be implemented over six years from 2025–26 to 2030–31 to enhance domestic pulses production and reduce import dependence.
Under the post-harvest infrastructure component, a total of 1,000 processing units (dal mills) have been planned nationwide, of which 528 units have been allocated to states and Union Territories in the first phase. Jammu & Kashmir is among the beneficiaries in this phase.
To increase pulses cultivation, particularly in rice fallow and other diversifiable areas, the government will distribute 87.5 lakh free seed kits over the mission period. During Rabi 2025–26 alone, 10.36 lakh seed kits have been allocated to states, with further annual targets planned in subsequent years.
The mission has identified 489 districts across the country as focused clusters for implementation, including two districts in Jammu & Kashmir, with scope for future modifications based on local requirements.
At the national level, the area under pulses cultivation is projected to expand by 35 lakh hectares by 2030–31, including both traditional and non-traditional growing regions. In Jammu & Kashmir, the pulses cultivation area is expected to increase modestly from 0.32 lakh hectares in 2024–25 to 0.36 lakh hectares by the end of the mission period.
The government said the scheme aims to strengthen the entire pulses value chain—from seed distribution and cultivation to processing and marketing—while enhancing farmer incomes and ensuring nutritional security.
The information was provided by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Bhagirath Choudhary, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
