Hyderabad, June 21 (Reporter) Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a video conference with the Agriculture ministers of 10 states to discuss steps to increase the cultivation and area of pulses in their respective regions on Friday. During the meeting, the Union Minister emphasized the urgent need to increase pulse cultivation to meet the growing demands of the country. He assured that the central government will implement policies to support this goal, an official statement said. Telangana Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao highlighted the global significance of Tandoor pulses cultivated in Telangana, noting that 4 lakh quintals of these pulses are brought to market annually. He proposed the establishment of a pulse board in Telangana to further promote this crop. Minister Rao also requested the lifting of the 25 per cent cap on pulse collection, advocating for a 100 per cent allowance to better support pulse farmers and help them manage market fluctuations. Additionally, he urged an increase in the subsidy provided to pulse farmers under the National Food Security Mission. Rao mentioned that Telangana plans to promote pulse cultivation, particularly after the first harvest of paddy fields, in line with central government directives. He also shared progress on oil palm cultivation in Telangana, which the state has ambitiously pursued over the past three years. Although oil palm cultivation has a 30-year history in Andhra Pradesh, it has recently gained traction in Telangana. The Union Minister responded positively and invited Minister Rao to Delhi to discuss these matters further...////...