What are the major challenges faced by India's agriculture sector to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses and vegetable oils? Suggest measures to address these challenges.

India spends ₹14 billion on oilseed and palm oil exports annually, constituting a major chunk of cash deficit. Challenges in pulses & vegetable oils: Pulses → 27 MMT, Oilseeds → 30 MMT. (1) Land fragmentation → small landholdings → more than 70% of landholdings are less than 1 ha (1 HA). (2) Water availability → only 48% irrigation, with 52% irrigation efficiency. (3) Monoropping culture of wheat-paddy → less crop diversification. (4) Poor MSP incentives. (5) Lack of credit for pulses and oilseeds → cheaper to import due to 90 day credit period. (6) Climate change → palm oil cultivation is ecologically intensive.

Measures: 1) Land enlargement enforcing cultivable fallows. 2) Incentive to diversify production from rice & wheat. 3) Tapping non-conventional sources like jojoba, talon, cotton-seed. 4) Pulse & Oilseed Infrastructure development fund. 5) Reducing the import credit period to 45 days to discourage imports. 6) Technological revolutions → high productivity, pest-resistant seeds. Thus, National Edible Oil Mission, pulse incentives, NABARD credit, MSP charges can make India self-sufficient.

— RITIKA