Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, urged farmers to focus on pulses production to achieve self-reliance in this sector by December 2027, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India). Shah took a significant step towards this goal by inaugurating the ‘e-samridhi portal,’ facilitating the registration, purchase, and payment processes for ‘tur dal’ producing farmers.
Addressing the national symposium on self-reliance in pulses, Shah emphasized the transformative impact farmers could make by initiating changes in agriculture. He assured farmers that registering with the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd (NCCF) would guarantee the purchase of their pulses by the Modi government at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Shah highlighted the increased MSP rate for ‘tur dal,’ reaching Rs 7,000, a 65 per cent rise from Rs 4,350 in 2014-15. The ‘e-samridhi portal’ aims to empower ‘tur dal’ producers by facilitating procurement, streamlined processes, and direct bank transfers by NAFED and NCCF. The initiative seeks to boost domestic pulses production, reduce import dependence, and enhance farmers’ income.
Under the scheme, the portal will enable the purchase of buffer stock from registered farmers, with payment based on the MSP or market price, whichever is higher. The entire process, from registration to payment, will be available on a single platform, ensuring transparency and farmer-centricity.
Amit Shah underscored the farmer-friendly nature of the initiative, emphasizing that the payment would be made directly into farmers’ bank accounts by NAFED, eliminating intermediary agencies. The ‘e-samridhi portal’ aims to connect farmers, NAFED, and relevant government departments, streamlining processes for better accessibility.
This initiative complements the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” campaign, promoting a new green revolution encompassing pulses and oilseeds alongside traditional crops. The portal’s launch symbolizes the government’s commitment to ensuring food security, with a focus on reducing dependence on imports and securing the future of the nation’s food production. The portal will benefit ‘tur dal’ growers in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Jharkhand, simplifying registration, procurement, and payment processes while directly purchasing 80 per cent of the buffer stock from farmers.
