The government has procured pulses and oilseeds worth Rs 441.42 billion at minimum support prices from farmers in the four years to 2018-19, the Agriculture Ministry said Tuesday.

It had undertaken various interventions to boost the production of pulses and oilseeds during the last four and a half years to achieve self-sufficiency in the country, a release from the ministry said.

India reported production of 25.23 million tonnes (MT) of pulses during FY 2017-18 against 14.66 MT in FY 2009-10, an increase of 72.10 per cent, it added.

Similarly, production of oilseeds increased from 24.88 MT to 31.3 MT during the corresponding period, registering an increase of 25.80 per cent.

“Further, the government’s decision to create a buffer stock of pulses has also led to the increase of pulses production in the country,” the statement said.

It added that the steps to “raise MSP to 1.5 times of the cost of production undertaken this year” will further encourage the farmers to grow more pulses and oilseeds.

“It is notable that during five years from 2009-10 to 2013-14, only a quantity of 7,28,000 MT of pulses and oilseeds valuing Rs 31.17 billion was procured at MSP whereas, during the period from 2014-15 to 2018-19, a quantity of 93,97,000 MT of pulses and oilseeds valuing Rs 441.42 billion were procured at  MSP by government,” it added.

Procurement of 78,84,000 MT amounting to Rs 358 billion alone has been contributed by the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.