The paper has studied the dynamics of pulse production state-wise North-East region of India based on the data compiled from the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, for the period 1972–73 to 2011–12. The pulses are mainly grown in uplands in North-Eastern hill region of India. The pulses though important for achieving nutritional security were grown on 252.8 thousand hectare area in 2013–14 and produced 209 thousand tonnes of pulses with an average productivity of 828 kg/ha. The NE region of India is almost 82 per cent deficit in pulse production against its requirements as per ICMR recommendations. The study has revealed that during the overall period (1972–73 to 2011–12), across all the states in North-East Region, Manipur (28.3%) registered the highest significant growth in production, followed by Nagaland (11.9%) and Tripura (4%). From decomposition analysis of growth in North East region, it was found that over the period (1972–73 to 2011–12), the yield effect (48%) was more than area effect (23%), whereas at the country level area effect (33.8%) was more than yield effect (28.3%). The study has suggested the need for concerted efforts to divert the area under shifting cultivation to production of pulses and other crops following the principles of conservation agriculture, which would ultimately help in improving soil health and nutritional security in this region.
North-East Region, pulse crops, growth rate, decomposition analysis
