Bhubaneswar, February 11: A regional centre of the Indian Pulses Research Institute (IIPR) will come up in Khurda district.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has laid the foundation stone of the center via video conferencing on Wednesday while attending an event to mark the World Pulses Day organised by Indian Pulses Research Institute (IIPR).
He also inaugurated office and laboratory building at IIPR Bhopal and Bikaner Regional Center.
Speaking on the occasion, “In the last five-six years, due to the tireless hard work of farmers, scientists and farmer-friendly policies of the central government, the country has increased its pulses production from 140 lakh tonnes to 240 lakh tonnes. Now we also have to pay attention to future requirements.”
Tomar said that according to an estimate, by the year 2050, about 320 lakh tonnes of pulses will be required.
“After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call, the dependence on imports of pulses has reduced and the country is saving more than Rs 15,000 crore per year,” said Tomar.
MoS Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Kailash Chaudhary, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General Dr Trilochan Mohapatra also addressed the programme.
