Challenges and options for meeting the needs of pulses-A review

Pulses are important crops for food and nutritional security worldwide. Traditional cropping pattern almost always included a pulse crop either as a mixed crop or in rotation, the commercialization of agriculture has encouraged the practice of sole-cropping. India produces a quarter of the world’s pulses accounting for largest share in the world production, both in quantity and variety. The major pulses grown in India are chickpea, Pigeonpea and Mungbean during 2013-14. Thus the poor production of pulses have not only created an imbalance in the demand and supply, but also resulted in soaring import bills, unpredictable price rise and low profit compared to competing crops. Average annual growth rate of area (4.5 per cent) and production (9.6 per cent) was maximum in chickpea during 2008-09 to 2013-14. Productivity of pulses increased from 441 kg/ha during 1950-51 to 764 kg/ha during 2013-14. There was enormous interstate variation seen in area, production of total pulses. The picture of net per capita per day availability of pulses has fallen drastically from 60 g to 42 g during 1951 to 2013. This shortfall has serious nutritional implications especially to children and women in rural areas. To achieve self sufficiency in pulses, there is a need to increase production up to 26.5 million tons by the year 2050. Research efforts,  easy and timely availability of critical inputs and creation of seed village will be helpful in achieving self sufficiency.