Pulses Production – Subramanian Committee, Eco Survey, etc.

Pulses Production – Subramanian Committee, Eco Survey, etc.

India’s Surge in Pulses Imports: A Six-Year High

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

Prelims level: Pulses: Cultivation pattern, Export dynamics, Consumption etc.

Mains level: NA

Why in the news?

  • India’s pulses imports in fiscal 2024 witnessed a remarkable surge, soaring by 84% year-on-year to their highest level in six years.
  • Lower production levels prompted India to permit duty-free imports of red lentils (Masoor) and yellow peas (Tur/Arhar), further driving the increase in imports.

Pulses Cultivation in India

Details
Seasons Cultivated in both ‘Kharif’ and ‘Rabi’ seasons. ‘Rabi’ pulses contribute more than 60% of production.

Kharif Season Pulses:

  1. Pigeon Peas (Arhar/Toor/Red Gram)
  2. Green Beans (Moong Beans)
  3. Black Matpe (Urad/Mah/Black Gram)
  4. Black Eyed Peas (Lobia)
  5. Chick Peas (Kabuli Chana)
  6. Red Kidney Beans (Rajmash)

Rabi Season Pulses:

  1. Bengal Gram (Desi Chick Pea/Desi Chana)
  2. Lentils (Masoor)
  3. White Peas (Matar)
Production (2023)  Approximately 27.5 million metric tonnes

Reported as 7.6 quintals per hectare

Area under Cultivation Pulses account for around 20% of the area under food grains in India.
Top Producing States Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka
Government Initiatives National Food Security Mission (NFSM) for Pulses, Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) Scheme
Research and Development Conducted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities
Goal Aim for self-sufficiency in pulse production by 2027

 

Pulses Import: Figures and Value

  • India imported a total of 4.65 million metric tons of pulses in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, marking the highest volume since fiscal 2018.
  • In terms of value, imports surged by 93% to reach $3.75 billion in the same period.

 

Pulses Production in India: Key Facts

  • India is the largest producer (25% of global production), consumer (27% of world consumption) and importer (14%) of pulses in the world (as per FAO).
  • Pulses account for around 20% of the area under foodgrains and contribute around 7-10% of the total foodgrains production in the country (as per Vikaspedia).
  • Gram (Chana) is the most dominant pulse having a share of around 40 per cent in the total production followed by Tur/Arhar at 15 to 20 per cent and Urad and Moong at around 8-10 per cent each. (Reference)
  • Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are the top five pulses producing States. (Reference)

 

Global Impact of Higher Imports

  • The surge in imports by India, the world’s largest importer, producer, and consumer of protein-rich pulses, has been bolstering global prices.
  • It has also contributed to reducing stocks in exporting countries such as Canada, Australia, and Myanmar.

Significance of Pulses Consumption

  1. Nutritional Value:
    • Pulses are considered to be ‘poor man’s protein’.
    • They contain 20-25% of protein by weight, with twice the protein available in wheat and thrice that present in rice.
    • WHO recommends 80gm/day of Pulses in the diet.
  2. Environmental Sustainability:
    • Pulses have low carbon and water footprints, making them integral to sustainable farming.
    • Water footprints for producing one kilogram of meat are five times higher than that of pulses.
    • Pulses emit 0.5 kilogram in CO2 equivalent per kilogram, while meat produces 9.5 kilograms in CO2 equivalent.

PYQ:

[2019] Among the agricultural commodities imported by India, which one of the following accounts for the highest imports in terms of value in the last five years ?

(a) Spices

(b) Fresh fruits

(c) Pulses

(d) Vegetable oils

[2020] With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements:

  1. Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crop.
  2. Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production.
  3. In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production of rabi pulses has decreased.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

April 19 2024

Pulses Production – Subramanian Committee, Eco Survey, etc.

Global Pulse Confederation (GPC) held in New Delhi

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

Prelims level: Global Pulse Confederation (GPC), Stats on Pulses Production

Mains level: NA

Introduction

  • The Global Pulse Confederation (GPC) has initiated the three-day convention — Pulses 24 — in New Delhi, India.

About Global Pulse Confederation (GPC)

Description
Formation Founded in 2016 through the merger of the Global Pulse Confederation (GPC) and the International Starch Institute (ISI).
Headquarters Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Mission Represents the global pulse industry, aiming to promote the sustainable growth of the pulse industry worldwide.
Focus Areas
  • Advocating for policies supporting the pulse industry’s interests.
  • Providing resources and support to pulse industry stakeholders.
  • Facilitating research and innovation in pulse production and utilization.
Membership Open to businesses, organizations, and individuals involved in the pulse industry, including growers, processors, traders, and researchers.
India’s Connect India, being a major producer and consumer of pulses, actively participates in the GPC and holds membership status, contributing to the organization’s objectives.

Key Highlights from Pulses 24 Convention

  • Production Growth: Pulses production in India has increased by 60% over the past decade, reaching 270 lakh tonnes in 2024 from 171 lakh tonnes in 2014.
  • Partnership Goals: Mr. Goyal emphasized the partnership between NAFED and GPC, aiming to position pulses as a vital dietary component not only in India but also globally.
  • Minimum Support Price (MSP): The Centre ensures an MSP offering 50% over the actual cost of production to farmers, resulting in attractive returns on investment. Significant increases in MSP for various pulses were highlighted, reaching as high as 117% in masoor and 90% in moong over the past decade.
  • Self-Sufficiency by 2027: India’s progress towards self-reliance in chickpeas and other pulses, with efforts focused on achieving self-sufficiency in all pulses by 2027. Initiatives include the supply of new seed varieties and the expansion of tur and black gram cultivation.
  • Global Knowledge Sharing: GPC president emphasized India’s potential to benefit from the conference by exchanging best practices and technological advancements in pulse cultivation from other countries.
  • Focus on Smallholding Farmers: Pulses are noted for their soil benefits and nutritional value, particularly beneficial for smallholding farmers.
February 17 2024

Pulses Production – Subramanian Committee, Eco Survey, etc.

Mini-Seed Kits to boost pulses output in kharif 2021

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

Prelims level: Pulses production in India

Mains level: Paper 3- Measures to increase pulses' production

Central government to distribute mini-kits of seed

  • The government on said it will distribute over 20 lakh mini-kits of seeds worth Rs 82.01 crore as part of a strategy to boost pulses production in the kharif season of the 2021-22 crop year.
  • The total cost for these mini-kits will be borne by the central government to boost the production and productivity of tur, moong and urad.
  • In addition to this, the usual programme of inter-cropping and area expansion by the states will continue on a sharing basis between the Centre and state, it said.

Increasing production and productivity

  • From a meagre production of 14.76 million tonnes in the 2007-08 crop year, pulses production has now reached 24.42 million tonnes in the 2020-2021 crop year, which is a phenomenal increase of 65 per cent.
  • India is still importing around 4 lakh tonnes of tur, 0.6 lakh tonnes of moong and around 3 lakh tonnes of urad for meeting its demand.
  • The special programme will increase the production and productivity of the three pulses of tur, moong and urad to a great extent and will play an important role in reducing the import burden.
May 8 2021

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