Dear Editor,
During Modi’s visit to Mozambique, an MoU was signed to double the import of pulses to 2 lakh tonnes by 2020-21. For this, we will provide high quality seeds and technical assistance. On the one hand, we are harping on the “Make in India” point, but when it comes to foodgrains, military hardware or goods and services, we give preference to imports. Why is it so? The shortage of pulses is a self-created problem, like that of onions, the cost of which rise every year. Why cannot we give the same assistance to our own farmers? They are known for hard work and producing gold from soil. If the government is sincere to the agriculture sector and farmers’ welfare, it should motivate and give good incentives to our own farmers. They will produce pulses in one year’s time at a much lower price as compared to the import. This will, in turn, financially help farmers who are contemplating suicides due to their hardships.
Jaspal Singh,
Via-e-mail
