Trailing Towards Self-Reliance in Pulses in India

By : D.P. Malik , Neeraj Pawar , Monika Chauhan , Sanjay

Page No: 1-14

Abstract: Grain legumes are excellent sources of protein, dietary fibres, starch, micronutrients and vitamins particularly for economically poor section of population in India. The study is targeted to analyse the growth in area and production, demand, availability and trade of pulses in India and also to examine policy options for enhancing pulses production. Pulses reached an all-time high production level of 23.92 million tonnes in TE2018–19. Pulses production registered an annual increase of 3.84 per cent in nearly last two decades owing to the expanding area and better yield. Madhya Pradesh alone contributed about one-third (30.95%) of pulses production in India indicating a growth rate of 5.57 per cent. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are sharing about 70 per cent of total pulses production in India. Chickpea, lentil and pigeon pea are greatly cultivated in these states having a dominant place in global production. Uttar Pradesh had indicated negative sign in pulses due to shifting of area towards wheat, paddy, oilseeds and sugarcane because of encouraging public policies and profitability. The chickpea area is mostly concentrated in central and southern region of India owing to evolution of short duration with tolerance of biotic and abiotic stresses. The net availability of pulses in India improved noticeably in recent years reaching to a level of 20.40 kg/year /capita as a result of higher internal production and large imports from North America, Russia, Australia, Myanmar and African nations. India imported one-fourth of total pulses production, mainly lentil, dry peas, pigeon pea, mung bean and urad bean to meet the rising demands of vegetarian population. India also exported Kabuli chickpea and organic pulses, a small portion of total production in Indian sub-continent, to African nations and Gulf countries.
For sustainable and higher production in India, concerted research efforts are required for development of cultivars having biotic and abiotic resistance with suitability for different agro-ecologies with continued support for adoption of improved production and protection technologies from various crop development programmes to realize higher farm yield. The additional area under pulses needs to be explored by extending cultivation in rice fallow areas in the eastern and coastal states, replacement with low productive crops, intercropping and cultivation on farm. Besides, robust market mechanism, price deficiency payment mechanism, lower limit of hoarding, proper storage facilities and creation of buffer stock, lucrative MSP and value addition are also required for sustaining pulses production in India. The PPP model and formation of FPOs for pulses should be extended to harvest higher yield and to benefit resource-poor pulse growers by undertaking activities such as assembling, processing, retailing etc. and also through collective bargaining. The pulses should be included in TDPS, MDM and SNP programmes to address nutrient deficiency and better accessibility of pulses to the under privileged sections of population.

Authors :
D.P. Malik
Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural Economics, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004.

Neeraj Pawar
Assistant Scientist (Agricultural Economics), Department of Agricultural Economics, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004.

Monika Devi
Assistant Scientist (Statistics), Department of Agricultural Economics, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125004.

Sanjay
Assistant Scientist (Agricultural Economics), Department of Agricultural Economics, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/PROD.2021.62.01.1