Technological Options to Increase Production of Pulses for Ensuring Nutritional Security in India

The pulses are mostly grown under rainfed conditions and there is only a small area (16% of total) under all pulses. The pulses are low profit crops and a study conducted on comparative costs of production pulse crops, potato, cereals and oilseeds has revealed that net income from the cultivation of rabi-pulses was quite low vis-àvis from other rabi-crops. Higher risk associated with cultivation of pulses is another major constraint to increasing production of pulses. No significant growth in area under pulses and small marketable surpluses are the other constraints identified in the study. The paper has argued that it is not the non-development of technology in pulses production but the low dissemination and adoption of technologies which is the major constraint to increasing of pulses production. The paper has suggested that to disseminate appropriate technologies for cultivation of pulses under rainfed conditions, increase irrigation facilities, expand crop insurance schemes and improve market efficiency so that producers get better incomes, leading to ensuring nutritional security in India.