PULSES IN INDIA

India is the largest produce, consumer and importer of pulses in the world. Pulse crops are cultivated in Kharif, Rabi and Zaid seasons of the Agricultural year. Rabi crops require mild cold climate during sowing period, cold climate during vegetative to pod development and warm climate during maturity / harvesting. Similarly, Kharif pulse crops require warm climate throughout their life from sowing to harvesting. The pulses mainly grown in India are Chickpea or Chana (Turkey-Syria origin), Pigeon pea or Tur originated in India, Lentil is native of Southwest Asia. Blackgram, Greengram, Lablab bean, Mothbean, and Horsegram originated in Indian subcontinent. Pea and Grasspea had origin in Southern Europe; cowpea is from West Africa and Faba bean is of West Asia.

Whereas global cereal production increased three time during last 50 years, pulses production which was 411 million tons in 1961 increased by 70 million tons in 2012. In India area under pulses over the last few years has been stagnating; It was 23.46 m ha in 2003-04, reached a peak of 26.4 m ha in 2010-11 and dipped to 23.82 m ha in 2015-16. Production of pulses, which was at 14.91 million tons in 2003-04 reached peak of 18.24 million tons in 2010-11 and declined to 17.33 million tons in 2015-16. (Directorate of Economics and Statistics). The main pulse growing states are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. Average yield of pulses increased from 600 kg/ha in 2009-10 to about 700 kg/ha in 2013-14. It was below the world average of 910 kg/ha. Because of domestic shortage pulses are imported so that currently the total consumption stands at 22.5 m tons. (source:www.indiastat.com). Madhya Pradesh has the highest area under cultivation (3.1 m ha) and largest production (3.3 million tons). Productivity is highest in Gujarat (1138 kg/ha) followed by Bihar (1134 kg/ha). Maharashtra is the largest producer of pigeon pea (0.9 million tons);it has also largest area under it (1.21 million ha); but Bihar has the highest productivity (1897 kg/ha) (source: oar.icris@org). India’s contribution to global pulse production is 25% followed by China (2.97%), Brazil (2.76%) and Canada (2.49%). In Indian production contribution of dry beans is 34%, followed by chickpea (17%), cowpea (14%) and peas (14%). Madhya Pradesh accounts for 39% of total production followed by Maharashtra and Rajasthan (14% each). Karnataka’s production is 6% of the Indian production (source: ICAR; Ministry of Agriculture, GOI).