Pulses are Out of Reach: A Regional Study in Uttar Pradesh

In India, pulse is the major source of protein. It is the cheapest and easily available protein source for rural population. Uttar Pradesh, one of the 17 major pulses-producing states in India, had 9 per cent area under pulse production with 11 per cent share in production in 2010–11. For this study, the state was taken in its four economic zones, viz. Western, Central, Bundelkhand, and Eastern with variability in the area, production and yield. The data were collected from secondary sources including the bulletins of Directorate of Agricultural Statistics and Crop Insurance, Government of Uttar Pradesh. Analyses have been attempted on time series data on pulses crops like arhar, gram, lentil, pea and total pulses for the four economic regions from 1970–71 to 2009–10. It is observed that arhar and lentil crops are more prominent in the eastern region in terms of area and production than other regions. Bundelkhand region has a leading position in terms of area and production of gram. The availability of total pulses has been found only in the Bundelkhand region. For increasing pulses production, there is a need to develop better varieties of pulses.