India has achieved self-reliance in rice and wheat and is now focusing on balanced food, energy and water security, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan told the Rajya Sabha on Friday.
Replying to a question, the minister said the government’s first objective was to achieve self-sufficiency in wheat and rice, which has now been met. He said India exports both crops and has overtaken China to become the world’s largest rice producer, with output of about 15 crore tonnes.
Chouhan acknowledged that rice cultivation consumes large quantities of water and said efforts are under way to develop varieties that require less time and water. He said Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) is being promoted to avoid the need for continuously flooded fields.
He added that crop diversification is being encouraged in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, with a push towards pulses, oilseeds, coarse and nutritious grains, maize, barley, cotton and agroforestry. Financial assistance is being provided through state governments, including ₹9,000 per hectare for pulses, ₹7,500 for maize and barley, ₹11,500 for hybrid maize and ₹7,500 per hectare for nutritious cereals.
The minister said assured procurement of pulses, steps to curb cheap imports through import duties and measures to ensure fair prices for farmers, along with initiatives such as AIF, PM-KUSUM and rural development programmes, are helping transform farmers from annadata (food providers) into urjadata (energy providers). He said these efforts are strengthening farmers’ role in building a self-reliant India.
