Achieving Atmanirbharta in Production of Pulses

Pulses are an important source of dietary protein and calories for the vegetarians, and are generally grown with minimal input in marginal and stress-prone environments. These  crops are endowed with the unique property of fixing atmospheric nitrogen in their root nodules and improving soil physical property and, therefore, play an important role in maintaining soil fertility and supplying protein to the large population of the country that consumes pulses. These groups of crops also add up to 40 kg/ha nitrogen to the soil that results in sustainability of system productivity. Also, these are a potent source of energy, carbohydrates, fat, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium and other minerals. Further, it is not only the high protein content of pulses for which these are important, but the amino-acid profile of these proteins is such that the mixed diet of cereals and pulses has superior biological value than either of the components alone. The pulse protein is low in sulphur-containing amino acids but rich in lysine, an amino-acid that is deficient in many cereals. Therefore, when pulses are added in cereal-based vegetarian diets, their nutritive quality comes at par with animal proteins. Pulses are also good sources of the B-group vitamins apart from riboflavin. Therefore, pulses hold a great potential in view of alleviation of increasing protein hunger and malnutrition that is prevalent amongst the poorer section of the society. 

Pulses in India

In India, about a dozen different pulse crops are cultivated. The commonly grown pulse crops are chickpea/ chana (Cicer arietinum), pigeon pea/ arhar (Cajanus cajan), urd bean/ urad (Vigna mungo), mung bean/ moong (Vigna radiata), horse gram/ kulthi (Macrotyloma boorus), moth bean/ moth (Vigna aconitifolia), lathyrus/ khesari (Lathyrus sativus), lentil/ masoor (Lens culinaris), cowpea/ lobia (Vigna unguiculata), drybean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and peas (Pisum sativum). However, chickpea and pigeon pea are the major pulses, together occupying 61% of the total production of pulses in the country. These crops form an integral part of different cropping systems for sustainable agriculture.

During the past four decades, the cultivation of pulses has witnessed an unprecedented geographical shift, catalyzed mainly by assured irrigation facilities being available in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, which once used to be the pulse basket of the country till the 1970s. The area under pulses in this region was largely replaced by wheat, rice and maize due to assured irrigation facilities. However, reduction in area under pulses was compensated by a proportionate increase in central and southern parts of the country. 

No major breakthrough was observed in pulses till 2016-17 with the production stagnating at 15-18 MT. As a result, the country was  importing pulses to the tune of 5-6 MT annually, putting a burden of  > ₹ 15,000 crore on the public exchequer. Suitable technological and policy interventions were discussed between the researchers, policy makers and the pulses ‘think tanks’ to devise suitable strategies to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses. As a result, an aggressive varietal improvement and matching production and protection technology development programme was taken up with the active participation of ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) and the NARS (National Agricultural Research System) partners, which led to development of high yielding, multiple stress resistant and short duration cultivars in different pulse crops. Simultaneously, the major research and policy initiatives were also taken for ushering the country into an era of pulses revolution.

These efforts led to emphatic dividends and an unprecedented increase of 8-10 MT of pulse grains was observed within a short span of 5-7 years that was recognized by the global community. Impressive growth in pulses production during the last decade (4.7%) has led to an increase in per capita availability of pulses (55.9 g/capita/day from the earlier 35.4 g/capita/day in 2010), even surpassing the recommendations of ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) of 52g/capita/day since 2017. 

Pulses Production Scenario in India

As a result of planned and concerted efforts, several breakthrough achievements were recorded in the research front, including reduction in crop duration: Mungbean (75 to 55 days), lentil (140 to 120 days), chickpea (135 to 110 days); increase in seed size (100-seed weight) of Kabuli chickpea from 35 to 55 g; development of YMV resistant, non-shattering and synchronous varieties in mungbean and urdbean; development of high input responsive, wilt resistant varieties in chickpea and early maturing and machine harvestable varieties in pigeon pea for multiple cropping; development of green seeded variety in field pea and bio-fortified varieties in lentil and chickpea. Hybrids were successfully developed and adopted in pigeon pea besides development of cultivars in the backgrounds of most successful chickpea varieties of past years through marker assisted breeding. Since the inception of pulses research network in India, more than 775 high yielding varieties resistant to major biotic and abiotic diseases have been developed. Some of the landmark varieties developed by the NARS of pulses are:

Further, a large number of crop production, management and protection technologies have been developed for pulses, the potential of which has been shown in large scale demonstrations as well. Such technologies include:

*      Weed management through application of Pendimethaline (30 EC) @ 1.0 Kg a. i. / ha as pre-emergence application and Imazethapyr @ 70-80 g/ha as post-emergence application at 20-25 DAS during kharif season after assuring the germination of weed.

*      Seed treatment with 5 ml of Imidacloprid (17.8 SL) / kg seed followed by usual plant growth promoting agent (PGPA) seed inoculation.

*      Control of thrips by spraying Imidachloprid (17.8 SL) dissolving 3 ml in 10 liters of water @ 600 to 800 liters of solutions.

*      Adoption of life-saving irrigation in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.

*      Seed priming by soaking seeds for 6-8 hours in water (Chhattisgarh, Bundelkhand region, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam).

*      Ridge planting of pigeon pea in high rainfall and low lying plain areas. Use of critical nutrients such as sulphur @ 20-25 Kg/ha.

*      Adoption of efficient and remunerative cropping systems, viz., rice-wheat-mungbean, pigeon pea-wheat and maize / sorghum / pearl millet-chickpea / lentil.

*      Seed inoculation with efficient strains of Rhizobium and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) @ 15-20 g/kg seed led to 10-15 % increase in yield over un-inoculated control.

*      Raised bed planting for population management and ridge & furrow system to conserve and enhance water use efficiency in pigeon pea.

*      100 kg DAP per ha along with basal application of Sulphur @ 20 kg and Zinc @15 kg/ha. Seed treatment of chickpea and lentil with Mo. 

*      Bio-control of soil-borne diseases by use of Trichoderma + carboxin (4 + 1g/kg seed) has been recommended.

*      Use of Pheromone traps (@ 4-5 traps/ha) for control of pod borer in chickpea and pigeon pea.

Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Enhancing Seed availability

To make India self-sufficient in the production of pulses, availability of quality seed is one of the most crucial factors which ensures enhanced per unit yield in farmers’ fields. For augmenting the availability of quality seeds of pulses, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, has planned to improve availability of quality seeds of major pulse crops locally with financial support of more than ₹ 225 lakh through 150 Seed-Hubs across the country in ICAR Institutes/ State Agricultural Universities/ Central Agricultural Universities/ Krishi Vigyan Kendras along with one more project, ‘Enhancing Breeder Seed Production for increasing Indigenous Production of Pulses in India’ for making quality seeds available locally for most suitable varieties of different pulse crops in 2016-17. Since the inception of the seed hub project, > 6.0 lakh quintal quality seeds have been produced and distributed to farmers across the country.  

As a result of these efforts, the country has reached near self-sufficiency in the seed sector. It may be worthwhile to mention that the major outcome of all these efforts bore fruits as we achieved the record production of pulses to the tune of  27.69 MT of pulses in 2021 (targeting 30.0 MT by 2030) and attained self-sufficiency in the sector. And it is well said that the country is poised to accomplish the ‘Pulses Revolution in India’. It is a happier moment for all our partners and stakeholders for making this journey successful and a stable one in time to come.

Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

With rising demand for vegetarian food due to an ever-increasing population and diversification of food habits, demand for pulses is increasing at a fast pace. This will be further challenged by a changing climate which may manifest itself in the form of shifting rainfall patterns, untimely and erratic rains, extreme temperatures, etc. This may also change the cultivation pattern of pulses. Post-harvest losses of food legumes still remain a matter of great concern. Accordingly, pulses researchers have to remain prepared with a wide range of pulse genotypes which may adapt themselves across changing climates. For developing such genotypes, wild relatives which are rich reservoirs of useful alien genes can play an important role. Further improvement in pulses productivity is needed through conservation and diversification of agriculture so as to increase the productivity of the system and improve soil health. Climate change associated with temperature rise and water scarcity are adversely affecting pulse productivity, particularly under rainfed pulse growing regions; this is one of the major challenges which needs to be addressed on priority. There is a strong need to  formulate strategic planning to achieve the goal while focusing on broadening the genetic base of pulses for breaking yield barriers, hybrid development in pigeon pea, high yielding varieties with tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses in various pulses, photo-thermo-insensitivity in green gram and black gram, bio-intensification of pulse-based cropping systems and resource conservation, development of micro-irrigation techniques, mechanization and minimizing post-harvest yield loss, climate risk management and efficient extension models for dissemination of pulse-based technologies for farmers to make the pulse cultivation in the country productive and remunerative. In addition, market intelligence mechanisms also need to be strengthened for the assessment of international demands of pulses.

Conclusion

India has witnessed an unprecedented leap in pulses production with record production in recent years, and has reached very close to self-sufficiency. An impressive growth in pulses production has led to increased per capita availability of pulses, decline in pulse import and market price of pulses. This phenomenal achievement has been realised through commercialisation of technologies including popularization of ICAR-developed improved varieties of pulses, matching pulses production and protection technologies and scaling seed production. The dissemination of region-specific, cost effective and system-based technological know-hows and packages of practices for pulses have led to increase in area and productivity of pulses. Improved varieties of pulses (<10 years) have replaced the old varieties in the seed chain due to enhanced breeder seed and quality seed production during the last few years.

*Dr GP Dixit is Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, where Dr AK Srivastava is a Senior Scientist.