Variability in Pulses Production of West Bengal

Recent sky-rocketing price rise in pulses may be attributed to the huge demand – supply gap in pulses production. West Bengal experienced a gross reduction in area by 71.64%, but comparatively higher rise in productivity (39.56%) restricted the fall in production only by 11.52% whereas in spite of marginal loss in area (1.58%), India witnessed an acceleration in production by 6.05% due to 13.57% rise in productivity over the period 1960–07. Exponential growth rate of area, production and productivity of pulses was estimated to be – 3.49, -2.47 and 1.02 percent for West Bengal and the corresponding figures for al India were found to be -0.12, 0.37 and 0.87% respectively. Inter-temporal and inter-district study revealed that change in area as a percentage of gross cropped area had come down from 12.86 to 2.31 during period 1960–07. Wide variations and instability in area, production and productivity of pulses of West Bengal had also clearly been reflected in the study. Over the years, specifically in the post green revolution period with the increase in irrigation facility, pulses were gradually competed out by more profitable cereals/cash crops. Development and adoption of HYV coupled with improved package of practices and higher monetary incentive for pulses growers could turn the prevailing dismal scenario of pulses production of the state of West Bengal.