Page 74 - Putting Farmers First

Pulses procurement shows Modi

government’s way of resolving
problems

The previous government had created a triple
whammy for the people of the country.

First, they did not promote the growth of
pulses sufficiently, which meant an important
nutritional crop was missing from the picture.

Whatever was grown, was not procured from
farmers sufficiently either. They bought very
low quantities of pulses from farmers.

When the demand for pulses went up, India
had to import pulses from foreign countries,
raising prices for common consumers.

The country lost precious foreign exchange to
imports, consumers ended up paying more, the
poor had to bear the burden of rising prices
and farmers did not get much in the way of
MSP payments either.

Modi government reversed this situation with a
knack for problem resolution.

The government increased the MSP of pulses
and ramped up procurement to many times
more than the previous government. This
meant more money in the hands of farmers.

Availability of pulses went up which meant
prices came down for consumers and the poor.

India also saved money which was earlier being
spent to import pulses.

67 | Putting Farmers First