India’s Efforts to Achieve Self-Sufficiency in Pulses

Pulses are globally one of the most important food crops. They are important due to their higher protein content. Although India is the largest cultivator of pulses in the World, the share of pulses to the total foodgrains production in the country is only 8.77 % in 2021-22. Nutritionists tell us that pulses are important because they provide the essential proteins. Pulses are playing a vital role in ensuring the food and nutritional security in India but the country faces a huge gap between the supply and demand for pulses. There is a huge potential for enhancing production of pulses in India. The demand for pulses will continue to increase because of population growth and increasing awareness of consumers about their nutritional benefits. The rapid strides taken by India in pulses production in recent years and the vast opportunities available for increasing both area and productivity of pulses in the country suggest that India is well-positioned to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses.