India is the world’s largest producer of pulses with 23 million tonnes from an acreage of 30 million hectares. The country accounts for 35 per cent global area and 27 per cent of global production. Pulses are commonly grown under rainfed condition all over India (87 per cent rainfed) during two principal seasons of the year, namely, kharif rainy season.
PRODUCTION OF PULSES
Top Pulses: Top six pulses grown in India are chickpeas (chana), pigeon pea (Arhar/tur dal), urad beans (urad dal), mung beans (moong), lentils (masoor) and peas.
Top States: Production of pulses has largely shifted from northern India to central and southern part. More than 90% of total pulses production is realised in 10 states namely, MP, Rajasthan, UP, Karnataka, AP, Gujarat, Jharkhand, CG and Telangana
Net Importer: India accounts for 25% import of Pulses across the world.
Demand-Supply Mismatch: With the rising incomes and fall in the poverty combined with greater health consciousness, the demand for pulses has run ahead of production.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
- National Food Security Mission (NFSM)- Pulses: Aims to Increase Pulses production by 3 Million tonnes
- Increase in MSP
- Price Support Scheme (PSS) under PM-AASHA
- Creation of Buffer Stock of Pulses by NAFED.
- Price Stabilisation Fund Scheme to check volatility in the prices.
STRATEGIES TO BOOST PULSES PRODUCTION
Utilization of potential area of rice-fallow lands: About 30-40 per cent of the area currently left fallow after paddy harvest can be converted into productive farmlands; Additional 3 Mha of pulses and 1 Mha of oilseeds can be brought under cultivation through "Targeting Rice Fallow areas" sub-scheme under RKVY.
CHANGING CROPPING PATTERN
- Diversification: Replacement of less remunerative crops with pulses;
- Promotion of inter-cropping
INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY
- Bridge the yield gap between Pulses and other cereal crops to incentivise farmers to take up Pulses production.
- Redesign of NFSM-Pulses: Two categories of districts for coverage under NFSM for pulses - NFSM Pulses for general districts and NFSM Pulses+ for districts where yield levels are lower than state/national averages.
- Strengthening storage and processing to reduce post-harvest losses: Pulses are vulnerable to post harvest loss which has been estimated to be the order of 20 to 30 per cent due to -Traditional dal mills resulting in low dal recovery etc.
- Bringing down duration of pulse crops through Technological interventions