The Indian organic pulses Market is the largest producer of pulses in the world with an annual production of about 19–20 million tons from an area of about 26 million hectares. The main pulses grown in India are pigeon pea (tur), gram, black gram, green gram, red lentil (masoor), and arhar/tur. India has a total demand of about 23 million tons annually.
India is the largest producer as well as consumer of pulses in the world; however, per capita availability has declined marginally due to the growing population. According to the Directorate General Agriculture & Cooperation crop estimation survey 2012-13, there was a fall of 2 % in the production of pulses this year compared to last year’s production. In 2012-13, the total production was estimated at 18.45 million tonnes compared to 18.88 million tonnes.
Pulses are included in our daily food intake as they are rich in protein, carbohydrates, and fats. The most popular pulses in India are Arhar, Moong, Urad, Chana, and Lentil (Masoor).
In 2016-17, India produced 23.38 million tonnes of pulses against a target of 24 million tonnes. In 2017-18, the production target for pulses has been set at 25 million tonnes.
According to experts, there will not be any shortage of pulses this year as the production is likely to reach the target because the Indian pulses market is expected to reach USD 47.9 billion by 2023, registering a CAGR of 8.5% during 2018-2023 (the forecast period). The farmers have been advised to adopt new techniques like laser land leveling and use quality seeds for growing more crops on less land area.
Consumption of pulses in India
In India, pulses are widely consumed as a traditional diet and are an important source of protein for the vegetarian population. The growing demand for ready-to-cook and processed pulses is anticipated to drive the growth of the Indian pulses market during the forecast period.
However, climatic conditions are a major factor that affects the production of pulses in India. During 2015-2016, the total production of pulses was around 17.1 MT, down by about 10% from 2015 levels owing to poor monsoon in 2016.
The government has undertaken various initiatives to promote the production and consumption of pulses in India. The National Food Security Act 2013 provides access to subsidized cereals (rice and wheat) at INR 3 per kg to 75% of rural and 50% of urban households across India.
Pulse consumption has increased due to an increasing population and a growing trend towards vegetarianism. Traditionally India was the largest supplier of pulses in the world, but more recently India’s exports have fallen as its demand for pulses has risen.
India is the largest producer of pulses in the world with a share of about 23 % of the total pulse production of the world. With a farm gate price for pulses in India being much higher than that prevailing in other regions, there is a significant export potential from India. However, this will be possible only when there is enough supply to meet the domestic demand.
Pulses import in India
India is also the largest importer of pulses. In recent years, due to poor monsoons and consequently lower production, India has had to import pulses. The cost of production of pulses has not been covered in recent years. Further, the government has provided subsidies and price support to farmers which have increased the price of pulses further. This has led to higher prices of pulses in the country. Some states have even imposed stock limits on pulses to check to hoard.
The government’s Food Corporation of India (FCI) imports massive quantities of food grains every year including wheat, rice, sugar, and now pulses, that are then sold to consumers at subsidized prices through a nationwide network of ration shops. In 2015, India imported 3.2 million tonnes of pulses out of the global imports of 4.3 million tonnes.
The growth in domestic production may not be enough to meet the rising demand for pulses since the country has a large and growing population with an increasing propensity for consumption.
In the decade ending 2016-17, lentil output increased by 2.6 percent over the previous decade, pea by 9 percent, and gram by 44 percent, according to Directorate of Economics and Statistics data. The production of tur and urad registered a decline of 4 percent and 8 percent respectively during this period.
Export data of pulses from India
In India, pulses are cultivated on 22.23 million hectares of land. Pulses production in India is a major source of income for farmers. The demand for pulses in the international market is increasing over the years due to their high nutritional value and their low production cost. Indian agriculture export data can be used to know the country’s export statistics, which has witnessed a growth rate of 7% to touch $30 billion in 2017-18 from $28 billion in 2016-17.
The export data of pulses from India shows that chana exports were 995,000 tonnes as against imports of 1 million tonnes during April-November 2017-18. The export data also reveals that India exported 437,000 tonnes more than what it imported during the period under review.
The Indian pulses export data shows that the country is exporting these commodities to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka among others.
The Major States Producing pulses in India
1. Madhya Pradesh: It is at the top of the list. It has 10.6 million tons of pulses and contributes to almost 30 percent of the total production in India.
2. Rajasthan: Rajasthan has a total production of 8.1 million tons of pulses and contributes to almost 20 percent of the total production in India.
3. Maharashtra: The state produces 7.2 million tons of pulses and contributes to almost 18 percent of the total production in India.
4. Uttar Pradesh: This state produces 6 million tons of pulses and contributes to almost 16 percent of the total production in India.
5. Gujarat: Gujarat is one of the main states that produce pulses in India, it has an annual production rate of 5 million tons and contributes to almost 13 percent of the total production in India.
6. Telangana: Telangana is a newly found state that has a high production rate, it produces 4 million tons and contributes to almost 11 percent of the total production in India.
