Pulses need a production boost

Context

India's persistent shortage in pulses production has led to significant challenges in ensuring food security and managing inflation in the 'pulses and products' group. The recent decline in output, coupled with increased imports, highlights the urgent need to address the underlying factors affecting pulses cultivation and production.

Challenges in Pulses Production:

• Declining Output and Rising Prices: Despite efforts to increase domestic production, India continues to face a deficit in pulses production, leading to inflationary pressures in the market. The recent drop in cultivation and output of major pulses, such as moong and urad, has exacerbated the situation, particularly due to deficit rainfall in key producing regions.
• Dependency on Imports: India heavily relies on imports to meet the growing demand for pulses, further straining its economy. Limited import sources and fluctuations in international prices pose challenges in stabilizing domestic supplies and prices, adversely affecting consumers, especially the poor.
• Structural Issues in Agriculture: Structural constraints, including the shift in cropping patterns towards cereal-cereal cultivation and inadequate irrigation facilities for pulses, contribute to low yields and output. The lack of post-harvest management and market linkages further impedes the growth of pulses production.

Strategies for Enhancing Pulses Production:

• Promoting Cultivation in Fertile Regions: Immediate measures should focus on promoting pulses cultivation in fertile and irrigated areas, providing input incentives, and ensuring remunerative prices for farmers. This would encourage farmers to prioritize pulses cultivation and contribute to increasing domestic production.
• Adoption of High-Yielding Varieties and Technologies: Enhancing pulses production requires the adoption of high-yielding varieties and modern agricultural technologies. Investments in research and development, coupled with extension services, can facilitate the dissemination of best practices among farmers and improve productivity.
• Sustainable Agriculture Practices: Cultivation of pulses not only addresses food security concerns but also promotes sustainable agriculture practices. Encouraging pulses cultivation can help enrich soil fertility, conserve water, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, contributing to long-term agricultural sustainability.