Pulses Sector in India: Production,

Consumption and How Can India

Become Self-Sufficient in Pulses
.

PRAFULLA KUMAR CHOUBEY=AE2325

First Semester, First Year, Indian agricultural Economics

Course Name: Agri Business Economics

Submitted to: Professor Deepak Shah

Declaration: This paper is submitted to Professor Deepak Shah as a part of the internal assessment
for the Indian agricultural Economics course for the academic year 2023-24
 India's pulse economy is a term that encompasses long-term and customary farming
practices that focus on the production and consumption of various pulses. Characterized by
small seeds, pulses have been cultivated in India since ancient times. These versatile crops
include chickpeas (chana), lentils (masoor), pigeon peas (tur or arhar), mung beans (moong)
and urad beans (urad).

India is the largest producer of the world (25% of world production), consumer (27% of
world consumption) and importer (14%) of pulses. Pulses account for about 20 percent of
the food grain area and about 7-10 percent of the country's total food grain production.
Although pulses are grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons, Rabi pulses account for more
than 60 percent of the total production.

Gram is the dominant pulse accounting for about 40 percent of the total production,
followed by Tur/Arhar at 15-20 percent and Urad/Black Matpe and Moong at about 8-10
percent each. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are
the top five pulse producing states. The yield of legumes is 764 kg/ha.

Importance of pulses sector in India

1. Supplements: Legumes are a staple food in India, especially for vegetarians, and serve as
an important source of protein. They are an integral part of Indian cuisine and feature
prominently in dishes such as dal, chana masala and sambar.

2. Nutritional value: Legumes are rich in protein and provide important nutrients such as
fiber, vitamins and minerals. They contribute significantly to a balanced and healthy diet and
reduce the country's food security.

3.Food security: The pulse sector is critical to food security in India by diversifying food
sources and providing affordable sources of protein, especially to poor households.

4. Agricultural Livelihood: cultivation of pulses provides livelihood to many farmers in India,

especially small and marginal farmers. They choose pulses because they are relatively less
resource intensive and contribute to rural employment and income generation.

5. Crop rotation and soil health: Legumes are known for their nitrogen-fixing properties,
which increase soil fertility. They are usually included in a crop rotation that promotes
sustainable and efficient agriculture

6. Export Potential: India is a major exporter of pulses which contributes to foreign exchange
earnings and strengthens the country and economy. Meeting international demand
emphasizes the industry and its role in global trade.

7. Climate Resilience: Some legumes are resistant to adverse weather conditions such as
drought, providing a valuable buffer against agricultural vulnerability caused by climate
change.
8. Reduce import dependence: Increasing domestic production of pulses will reduce India's
historical dependence on imports, strengthen the country and self-reliance in food
production.

Production of Pulses in India

Here are some of the major types of pulses produced in India

Chickpeas (Channa dal)

• Distribution: The main producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan,
Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Pigeon Peas (Tur Dal)

• Distribution: Pigeon peas are grown in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
and Madhya Pradesh.

Red Lentils (Masoor Dal)

• Distribution: The main producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and
West Bengal.

Green Grandma (mung beans)

• Distribution: Green gram is grown in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra
Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Black Gram (Urad Dal)

• Distribution: Black Gram is grown in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra
Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
 States Wise Pulse Production

Share of Major Pulses in Financial year2016-17 and 2021-22 in Total Production

Statistical data on the total production of pulses in recent years.

All-India production of pulses such as tur, urad and other lentils is estimated to be around 28
million tonnes in FY2023. Overall, this was a significant increase in production compared to
the financial year (2002) across the South Asian country.
 production in million metric tons
30

25

20

15

10

0
02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20

The overall growth rate has only been 0.64%, despite a 46% increase in pulse productivity.
However, pulse productivity improved more (2.4%) between 2000–01 and 2013–14.

Consumption Patterns

In India, the per capita consumption of pulses has consistently fallen short of the
suggested amounts. The current average rate of consumption, 47 grams per capita per day,
is slightly higher than the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) recommendation of
40 grams per capita per day for people leading sedentary lifestyles, but it is still far lower
than the recommendations made for working men and women, 60 and 50 grams,
respectively. In Indian diets, pulses are a major source of protein. Pulses are often among
the least expensive forms of protein, even if their cost has been steadily growing over the
last ten years, according to the most recent round of NSS (National Sample Survey) data
and nutrition charts from the Indian Council of Medical Research.

According to Fourth Advance Estimates, the nation will produce 25.72 million tonnes of
pulses overall in 2020–21. According to a survey on "Household Consumer Expenditure"
by the National Statistical Office (NSO) for the 68th round of the NSS (July 2011–June
2012), the amount of pulses and pulse products consumed per person for 30 days in the
rural and urban sectors is 0.737 kg and 0.845 kg, respectively. Furthermore, the estimated
demand for pulses in 2020–21 is 26.05 million tonnes, according to the Working Group
report on "Demand and Supply Projections towards 2033 of Crops, Livestock, Fisheries and
Agricultural Inputs of NITI Aayog."

The production of pulses has grown on average by 10.89% over the last five years (2016–
17 to 2020–21).

All India Intake and Production of Pulses (and Pulse Products), including pigeon pea,
chickpea, green gram, red lentils, black gram, dried peas, and grass pea.

Per capita production after adjusting for production loss 9.51 kg pc pa

Per capita consumption 10.26 kg pc pa

Aggregate production adjusted for production losses 11.5 million tonnes

Aggregate Consumption 11.38 million tonnes

Government Initiatives for Pulse Production in India

To encourage the production of pulses and increase farmers' incomes, the Indian
government has put in place a number of programs and initiatives.

Two such programs are the National Mission on Protein Supplements (NMPS) and the
National Food Security Mission (NFSM).

• In all districts of the 28 states and two union territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—
the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is carrying out the National Food Security
Mission (NFSM)-Pulses with the goal of boosting production through area expansion and
productivity enhancement.

Assistance is provided to farmers under NFSM-Pulses through States/UTs for interventions

such as cluster demonstrations on an enhanced package of practices.

• Cropping system demonstrations

• HYV/hybrid seed production and distribution, enhanced farm equipment, and tools for
resource conservation
• Effective methods for applying water, safeguards for plants, and soil ameliorants and
nutrient management

• Post-harvest and processing equipment

• cutting training based on a system, etc.

The ICAR is conducting basic and strategic research on pulse crops as well as applied
research in partnership with State Agricultural Universities to develop location-specific high-
yielding varieties and corresponding production packages in an effort to increase the
productivity potential of pulse crops in the nation.

The government periodically sets minimum support prices, or MSPs, for pulses to ensure
that farmers receive fair prices for their produce.

The government runs the PM-AASHA umbrella program, which includes the Price Support
Scheme (PSS) in order to guarantee farmers receive fair prices.

• The Payment Deficiency Scheme (PDPS)

• The Private Procurement Stockist Scheme (PPSS), which guarantees farmers the Minimum
Support Price (MSP) for their notified oilseed, pulse, and copra production.

How Can India Become Self-Sufficient in Pulses

Legumes are a staple of the Indian diet and continue to be an important source of protein
for most Indians. Some suggestions on how the government can ensure that this
requirement is met.
The National Family Health Survey-5 conducted between 2019 and 2021 found that only
16.6% of men and 29.4% of women never ate anything other than vegetarian (fish, chicken
or meat). Despite this, pulses are still an important source of protein for most Indians. This is
due to both the availability and affordability of vegetarian food.

The average Indian diet, according to researchers at the International Food Policy Research
Institute (IFPRI), is excessively high in grains but low in proteins, fruits, and vegetables.
Against the required daily intake of 459 grams of protein, rural India only consumes 194
grams. Indian city dwellers eat 242 grams. Indians with higher incomes are eating too much
processed food..

Mission for increasing production of pulses

The role of pulses in Indian diets has caused worry for some governments. The National
Food Security Mission (NFSM) was established by the UPA government in May 2007 in
response to the worldwide food crisis of 2005–2006. The aim was to achieve a 2 million
tonnes increase in pulse production by the end of the 11th five-year plan in 2011–12.

The production increased from 14.20 million tonnes in 2006–07 to 17.09 million tonnes in
2011–12 as a result of the success of NFSM. However, there were two consecutive droughts
in 2014–15 and 2015–16, which resulted in a 2-3 million tonne decrease in pulse output
from 2013–14. Throughout the early years of the first Modi government, this led to
significant inflation.

Subramanian committee

A committee led by Arvind Subramanian, the chief economic adviser at the time, was
established by the Union government in 2015 to examine the necessary policy changes
needed to encourage the production of pulses.

The government has since taken a number of the committee's suggestions into
consideration. The Modi administration has kept up NFSM-Pulses.

In addition, the government increased the minimum support price (MSP) for pulses by a
significant amount. The MSP of Kharif pulses such as tur and urad increased by 46.5% and
that of moong by 61.7% between 2013–14 and 2021–22. The MSP of chana has climbed by
68% in the case of Rabi pulses, while the MSP of lentils (masur) has increased by 86.4%
during the same period.

These efforts resulted in an increase in production from 19.26 million tonnes in 2013–14 to
27.81 million tonnes in 2022–2023 (2nd advance estimate announced on February 15,
2023).

Nevertheless, a few of the Subramanian Committee's recommendations remain unfulfilled.

Procurement of pulses

Pulses should be purchased by the government from MSP. The government ought to give
procurement organizations an extra Rs 10,000 crore for this.In order to facilitate the
purchase of pulses, the Modi administration established a Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) and
increased the allotment under the Price Support Scheme (PSS). In 2018–19, procurement hit
a record-breaking 41.83 lakh tonnes. It was 12.49 lakh tonnes in 2021–2022.

But the finance minister has only allocated a meager Rs one lakh apiece for PSS and PSF for
2023–2024.
Since pulses have a shorter shelf life than grains and wheat, they should be disposed of
properly after purchase from MSP.This is a more challenging proposition, as it has been
observed that Nafed, the primary procurement organization, accumulates a sizable stock of
pulses that are subsequently sold for less than their true cost.

The committee concluded that a ban on pulse exports was not warranted.The government
permitted pulse exports in November 2017 due to a decline in domestic prices that was less
than the MSP.

In order to alleviate the nation's reliance on pulse imports and guarantee food security, the
committee's suggestions for reviving India's pulse production and market dynamics are
essential. First, state governments should be advised to remove pulses from Agricultural
Produce Market Committee (APMC) Acts. This will enable pulses to be purchased and sold
outside of APMCs, as long as the buyer pays the market fee. Due to a lack of adequate
physical infrastructure for large-volume trading, the majority of trade still takes place within
APMCs, despite the fact that many governments now permit this.

In addition, a new government-owned institution for pulses is to be established, including

participation from the public and private sectors. It does, however, recommend that this
organization be run by an independent board of directors. The goal of this idea is to make
buying, storing, and selling of different crops—including fruits and vegetables—easier.
However, since the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed)
already has a great deal of experience in the market when it comes to the buying and selling
of pulses, this advice has not been implemented.

The Price Stabilization Fund was established in 2015–16 to help control prices and
streamline pulse procurement. When it is anticipated that open market prices would
increase during the off-season, this fund enables the government to purchase pulses at rates
higher than the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Punjab should receive incentives to boost pulse output in irrigated areas. Though almost all
non-basmati paddy surpluses are procured, procurement of pulses is uncertain, therefore
progress on this front has been restricted.

It is stressed how important it is to increase pulse production, especially through genetic

modification. India's pulse yield is not as high as that of other nations; in 2021–2022, the
country's tur yield was just 859 kg/ha, much less than Myanmar's nearly doubled yield.

Apart from encouraging domestic production of pulses, the government has also inked
agreements to allow duty-free imports of pulses from nations such as Malawi, Myanmar,
and Mozambique. Pulses were categorized as Open General License (OGL) in May 2021,
which made importation of pulses simpler. The Essential Commodities Act was used in July
2021 to provide state governments the authority to place stock limitations on dealers of
urad, masur, and tur pulses.

The government is concentrating on seed and varietal substitution in order to increase pulse
production. Cost-free distribution of high-yielding pulse varieties is done, with a focus on
intercropping as a way to boost output. Intercropping is targeted in areas that are currently
under rice fallow in different states.
India's output of Kharif pulses has stalled despite these efforts, leaving the nation
dependent on imports. India imported over 27 lakh tonnes of pulses in 2021–2022, including
lentils, tur, and urad.

The largest pulse crop, chana (rabi), accounts for around half of India's total production of
pulses. Expectations among farmers have been further affected by the fact that chana prices
have been below the Minimum Support Price for the past two years and that future trade
has been halted since August 2022. The smaller area planted to chana suggests that farmers
might be switching to crops with better price.

The demand for pulses is expected to rise 32.64 million tons by 2029–2030, according to the
NITI Aayog, underscoring the pressing need for technological breakthroughs in oilseeds and
pulses. It might be necessary to reroute areas from rice cultivation in order to raise
production by 5 million tons during the next seven years. To guarantee fair prices for pulses
in irrigated areas, though, a comprehensive policy strategy is needed.

In conclusion, attaining self-sufficiency and food security in India requires tackling the
difficulties associated with pulse production and market dynamics. One of the most
important stages in satisfying the nation's rising demand for pulses is the implementation of
the recommended guidelines and technological developments.

Conclusion: Navigating India's Path to Self-Sufficiency in Pulse Production

The progress India has made in becoming a self-sufficient producer of pulses is both a
tremendous accomplishment and a continuous task. For millions of Indians, pulses are a
staple food that is essential to both nutritional balance and food security. India has made
great progress in increasing its domestic production of pulses, but there are still a number of
obstacles and complexities.

The data indicates that pulse production has increased significantly, with an estimated 28
million metric tons in the 2023 fiscal year. A 46% increase in productivity has propelled this
advancement, demonstrating the effectiveness of government initiatives like the National
Food Security Mission (NFSM). The higher productivity growth rate of 2.4% from 2000–01 to
2013–14 is noteworthy and highlights how successful these initiatives were.

Several states—including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra—have

shown signs of improving productivity and production growth rates. Although certain areas
experienced negative growth rates, overall trends point in the direction of advancement.

Nevertheless, a number of the Arvind Subramanian committee report's recommendations

have not yet been put into practice. It is imperative to provide procurement agencies with
extra funding to enable efficient pulse purchase and disposal at minimum support prices
(MSPs). Furthermore, increasing trade outside the boundaries of the Agricultural Produce
Market Committee (APMC) and refraining from outlawing pulse exports could enhance
productivity and market accessibility.

In the medium term, it is imperative to promote innovation in line with international

standards, embrace technology such as genetic modification, and increase pulse production
in irrigated areas.

International agreements that allow duty-free imports of pulses improve stability by acting
as a safety net against shortages in supply.

The goal of producing pulses independently is advancing steadily, but there are ongoing
obstacles. According to NITI Aayog's projection, there will be a rise in pulse demand by
2029–2030, which calls for strategic planning, flexibility in responding to changing market
conditions, and ongoing government support. Achieving self-sufficiency will require
switching from rice to pulses in irrigated areas, guaranteeing fair prices, and utilizing
technology breakthroughs.

In summary, India's goal of becoming self-sufficient in the production of pulses represents

resiliency, advancement, and a dedication to meeting the dietary needs of its sizable
population. India can achieve its goal of improving food security and farmers' livelihoods by
combining technological advancements, market reforms, and wise policy measures.

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https://thewire.in/agriculture/india-pulses-self-sufficient
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(2021). Factors influencing household pulse consumption in India: A multilevel model
analysis. Global Food Security, 29, 100534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2021.100534

Nabard-Rural-Pulse-XIX. (n.d.).
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