Pulses are important for the nutritional security point of view of the cereal based vegetarian diet of large scale of country. India is the largest producer, consumer and importer of pulses in the world. It has been projected that M. tones of total pulse requirement for the burgeoning population of India, which will grow to billion by 2050. To attain upto this level an annual growth rate of is required. The demand for pulses continues to grow at per annum. Although challenges are diverse including climate changing scenario, decreasing land and water resources, this target is not unattainable. Increasing the average productivity of pulses to > 1200 kg ha-1 and bringing an additional area of about M. ha. under pulses cultivation will be a concrete step in this direction. Enhancement of yield through development of input responsive varieties with multiple resistances to diseases and insect-pests, short duration varieties that fit well in different cropping systems and climate resilient varieties of pulses will be enormously helpful in a vertical expansion of pulses in the country. Similarly, development of new plant types for different agro-climatic situations, and development of photo-thermo insensitive cultivars in crops like urdbean and moongbean will help expanding the areas of these crops in the non-traditional areas of the country. | Pulses production and productivity: Status, potential and way forward for enhancing farmers income
