Silent revolution in pulses production – India marching towards self-sufficiency

Abstract

Globally, India is known to have largest share in acreage and production of pulse crops. At the same time, it is also a largest consumer and processor of pulses in the world. More than a dozen pulse crops are grown across the countries out of which six are major ones. Recently, India has witnessed a silent ‘Pulses Revolution’ whether to say or not but fact is that during 2017–18, the pulse production of 25.23 million tonnes (mt) is 5.98 mt more over 2013-14 (19.25 mt) and by 2.10 mt over 2016–17 (23.13 mt). There has been positive trend in area, production and productivity of pulse crops during last 3 consecutive Five Year Plan periods. This clearly indicates that an indigenous production has not only increased but sustaining as well and India is silently marching towards self-sufficiency in pulses. While the “Green Revolution” that was declared in 1968 when wheat and rice production increased by 4.15 mt and 6.17 mt, respectively in 1967-68 over 1966-67. Pulses revolution could happen due to development of science-led technologies and policy initiatives on similar lines as cereal revolution happened then in late sixties. Pulses revolution has distinction as it is led by the indigenous technologies developed by our research based institutions and then spread across the country. The realized pulses revolution is indigenous, wide spread, environment friendly, sustainable and a step towards ensuring food and nutritional security of the country.