India’s pulses output rises 4.04 million tons in last 4 years

Amid mounting appetite of pulses in India as per its health standards, the demand for the protein rich commodity increased in the country. Accordingly, the production of pulses rose by 4.04 million tons to 18.24 million tons in 2010-11 from 14.20 million tons 2006-07.

The rise in pulses output was mainly backed by States which are responsible for promotion of interventions under any crop development programme including that of pulses at field level. Regular Field visit by Block, District & State level Agriculture Officers is an integral part of their duty to extend technologies and related knowledge to the farmers under various pulses development programmes such as National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Accelerated Pulses Programme etc.

The states also carried out various promotional activities at State/District/Block levels before the Kharif and Rabi crop seasons for making available the recommended improved technologies/inputs to the farmers in time for their farming operations.

Meanwhile, the government through Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has initiated various steps to increase productivity of pulses in the country. Some of the major steps are:-

• Development of short duration, photo-thermo insensitive varieties for different agro-ecology.
• Development of good agronomic practices.
• Development of hybrids in pigeon-pea.
• Development of resource conservation and utilization technologies.
• Development of efficient plant architecture in major pulses crops.
• Development of bio-intensive Integrated Pest Management modules
• Improved machines for planting, harvesting, threshing and processing.
• Production of breeder seed of latest released varieties & hybrids and organizing frontline demonstrations in farmers’ field.