Mains Marathon

• Give a brief introduction about pulse production in India.
• Describe the short coming due to which India has not achieved Atmanirbharata (self-sufficiency) in pulse production.
• Mention the advantages of pulse production.
• Give some points on problems associated with pulse production in India.
• Conclude suitably.

Answer

India’s pulses production has increased significantly in the last few years, The dependence on imports of pulses has reduced and the country is saving more than Rs 15,000 crores per year. The MSP of pulses has increased from 40 per cent to 73 per cent in six years which is definitely benefiting the farmers.

Agricultural scientists are providing many varieties of the pulses to the nation, which will help in increasing both production and productivity.

The output has increased to 240 lakh tonnes from 140 lakh tonnes in the last six years because of the efforts made by farmers and scientists as well as the government’s initiative. Pulses demand is estimated to reach 320 lakh tonnes by 2050.

Domestic production of pulses peaked in 2016-17 and 2017-18 when the total production of the five major pulses was 204.7 lakh tonne (LT) and 228 LT respectively. India currently produces 25 percent of the world's pulses output. The per capita availability of pulses also reached 55.9 gram/day, as against ICMR recommendation of 52 gram/day pulse requirement.

According to an estimate, by the year 2050, about 320 lakh tonnes of pulses will be required.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been implemented in a modified form so that the farmers can get safety cover and they can be free from risk. In 4 years, farmers paid Rs 17,000 crore as premium in Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, while they were paid more than 5 times, i.e., more than Rs 90,000 crore as the claim amount.

Advantages of pulse production:

The critical issues afflicting the sector are pulses being cultivated primarily under rain-fed conditions and on relatively poor soils.

It is a highly water efficient and climate resilient crop that can be grown in drought prone areas. It helps in soil fertility by fixing nitrogen and promoting soil microbes.

A greater focus on domestic production by making pulse production more attractive is the need of the hour.

Constrains associated with pulse production in India:

Pulses production in India has been marred by absence of high yielding varieties which could be pests and diseases resistant, low level of mechanization in entire framing practice, lack of assured market, ineffective government procurement operations, unfavorable prices and trade liberalization make pulse production less attractive for farmers compared to other crops.

Lack of serious attempt to use advanced technology in harvesters and threshing machines and among other agricultural equipment.

Farmers who have low means should be given access to these devices and instruments on a custom-hire basis so they may utilize these services at the village level.

Measures that can be taken

Creating multiple engagement platforms to demonstrate the benefits of growing pulses to farmers, ensuring dissemination and successful adoption of various technologies, working on access to R&D and high-yielding varieties, are some of the measures that need to be undertaken.

This involves strengthening of extension services, use of ICT (AI, GIS, remote sensing) to disseminate important information on prices and weather, impact assessment studies, machine learning techniques, capacity building and skill enhancement.

Additional area can be brought under cultivation via intercropping and sequential cropping, increasing mechanisation, integrated nutrient and pest management, promotion of bio-fertilisers and micro-irrigation.

To ensure better availability, there is a need for a more flexible trade policy for pulses.

Sensible agronomic practices such as wet and dry system of irrigation, and profitable crop rotation should be encouraged to the farmers to reduce the build-up of pest, diseases and weeds.