India tasks ICAR with 2047 roadmap for self-reliance in pulses and oilseeds

Import dependence puts productivity at the centre

India has instructed the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, or ICAR, to prepare a roadmap through 2047 aimed at achieving self-reliance in pulses and oilseeds. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan set out the priorities during ICAR’s 98th foundation day, arguing that agricultural research should be judged by whether it solves farmers’ problems and reaches their fields rather than by the number of research papers produced.

The initiative targets two of India’s most important agricultural import categories. According to Jagran, Chouhan said the country still imports about 6 million to 7 million tonnes of pulses and more than 15 million tonnes of edible oil annually. He identified low productivity as the main concern and asked why India could not match countries that produce more pulses without genetically modified seed. For domestic growers, processors and importers, the answer will shape future acreage, procurement and exposure to international prices.

Crop diversification and higher output

ICAR Director-General M. L. Jat said the 2047 roadmap envisages limiting the area under rice and wheat while promoting maize, millet, pulses and horticultural crops. The plan seeks to increase total agricultural production from 1.3 billion tonnes to 2.1 billion tonnes, alongside major growth in milk, horticulture and fisheries output. The proposed shift would require productivity gains and incentives strong enough to persuade farmers to move land away from established cereal systems.

Chouhan highlighted the scale of existing yield differences. He said maize production can exceed 100 quintals per acre, compared with 30 to 35 quintals for rice and only 5 quintals for chickpea and mung bean. The minister tasked scientists with narrowing that gap through durable productivity improvements. He also said additional volume would not be sufficient by itself: crop quality must improve so that Indian produce can compete in global markets.

Research, climate resilience and farm delivery

The ministry proposed developing 100 climate-smart villages before ICAR’s centenary and suggested running the next two years as “Mission ICAR-100.” Each ICAR institute would be expected to develop at least one innovation with visible national impact, potentially a new crop variety, vaccine, digital platform or climate-resilient technology. Agricultural science centres are to evolve from training facilities into innovation hubs and climate advisory centres, with district-level planning and risk management receiving greater attention.

At the foundation-day programme, ICAR released 43 crop varieties, 17 agricultural technologies and 14 publications. These covered disease-resistant and nutrient-rich crops, vaccines for livestock and fisheries, and digital agriculture solutions. More than 70 technology licences and memoranda of understanding were also signed to accelerate delivery to farmers.

Digital access and input quality

An ICAR open digital knowledge platform is planned to provide 100 million farmers with free mobile access to scientific advice, weather information, soil-testing guidance and details of new technologies. Chouhan also called for stronger laws against counterfeit seed and substandard pesticides, as well as field-level tools that would allow farmers to test input quality.

The roadmap therefore extends beyond replacing imports with domestic tonnage. Its success will depend on whether research produces commercially viable pulse and oilseed yields, whether farmers receive reliable seed and crop protection products, and whether diversification offers returns comparable with rice and wheat. Until those conditions are met at scale, India’s large requirement for imported pulses and edible oil will remain an important part of the market.