Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, has urged farmers to focus on pulse production to achieve self-reliance by December 2027. In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India), Shah launched the ‘e-samridhi portal’ dedicated to registering, purchasing, and payment processes for ‘tur dal’ producing farmers.
Addressing a national symposium on self-reliance in pulses, Shah emphasized the need for India to become self-reliant in pulse production and 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 at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Shah highlighted the Modi government’s commitment to purchasing pulses on MSP, citing a 65% increase in the ‘tur dal’ MSP rate from Rs 4,350 in 2014-15 to Rs 7,000. The new initiative aims to empower ‘tur dal’ producers by streamlining processes, providing better prices through procurement, and ensuring direct bank transfers by NAFED and NCCF.
The ‘e-samridhi portal’ facilitates the registration, purchase, and payment processes on a single platform, allowing farmers to track activities from registration to payment. Farmers can register directly or through Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and Farmers Producers Organizations (FPO). Payments will be made directly by NAFED into the farmers’ mapped bank accounts, ensuring a farmer-centric approach.
Shah emphasized the farmer-centric nature of the initiative, focusing on better accessibility, and complementing the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” campaign. The multilingual electronic portal (https://esamridhi.in) aims to connect farmers, NAFED, and relevant government departments.
The launch of the ‘tur dal’ procurement portal aligns with the government’s vision for a new green revolution, encompassing pulses and oilseeds alongside traditional crops. The portal is expected to benefit farmers in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Jharkhand, simplifying registration, procurement, and payment processes. The initiative aims to purchase 80% of the buffer stock directly from farmers, reducing dependence on imports and ensuring food security for the nation.