Pulse rejuvenation in Eastern India through cluster frontline demonstration

Abstract

Consumed as dal, pulses are a cheap source of protein security in India and have the ability to revitalize the soil through symbiotic nitrogen fixation. They are the second-most important agricultural crop after cereals and are crucial to India’s food and nutritional security. These legumes are eaten because they contain a variety of amino acids and have several therapeutic benefits. India contributes between 25 and 27 per cent of the world’s production and consumption of pulses, respectively. However, the country faces a substantial gap between the supply and demand for pulses. There is a tremendous opportunity to significantly increase the output of pulses in India, largely by raising productivity and, to a lesser extent, by expanding the area planted with pulses. The production of pulses climbed by 51.81 percent, from 18.24 million tonnes in 2010–11 to a record 27.69 million tonnes in 2021–22.The increase in production of pulses during the period was accompanied by decrease in import of pulses. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW, GoI) under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) aims to increase pulse production through productivity as well as area expansion; create employment opportunities; and enhance the farm profits to enhance farmers’ trust. In this endeavour, the DA&FW sanctioned the “Cluster Frontline Demonstration on Pulses” project in 2015 (rabi) involving ICAR/KVK to provide seeds of improved varieties and to disseminate improved technologies generated by State Agricultural Universities, ICAR Institutes and Non-governmental Organizations. In 2021-22, NFSM provided Rs. 40.587 lakh for the project to ICAR-ATARI Kolkata, Zone-V, during May, 2021. The fund was used to conduct CFLDs through 32 Krishi Vigyan Kendra