Examine the challenges faced by the pulses sector in India and propose comprehensive solutions to address these issues. (05-01-2024)

·         Green Revolution Bias: Lack of focus on pulses.

·         Technological Stagnation: No breakthroughs hinder productivity.

·         Water Scarcity: Only 15% pulses irrigated.

·         Pest Infestation: Weeds, bulls, and borers damage.

·         Seed Replacement Rate: Low, 2-7% seed replacement.

·         Assured Off-take Absence: No guaranteed off-take.

·         Global Trade Dynamics: Policies foster volatility.

·         Increasing Acreage

·         R&D for Yield Improvement

·         Farmer Empowerment

·         Marketing Innovations

·         Trade Policy Harmonization

·         Awareness Campaign

·         Green Revolution Bias: Pulses, having missed the Green Revolution benefits, suffer from a lack of governmental attention, with the focus predominantly on wheat and rice cultivation.

·         Technological Stagnation: The absence of breakthrough technologies in pulse crops hinders productivity enhancement and resilience against pests and diseases.

·         Water Scarcity: With only 15% of pulses receiving irrigation, water scarcity exacerbates the challenges, contrasting sharply with the average of 46% for all foodgrains.

·         Pest Infestation and Post-Harvest Losses: Weeds, blue bulls, and pod borers cause substantial damage before harvest, and post-harvest losses persist due to excessive moisture and pest attacks.

·         Seed Replacement Rate: The low seed replacement rate, estimated at 2-7%, results in sub-optimal yields, highlighting the critical issue of timely availability of certified quality seeds.

·         Assured Off-take Absence: Unlike MSP for cereals the absence of assured off-take further discourages pulse cultivation, contributing to the perceived riskiness of the crop.

·         Global Trade Dynamics: Trade policies, stock limits, and import practices create distortions in supply, fostering volatility in prices and dissuading farmers.

Solutions:

·         Increasing Acreage:

• Cultivate pulses in suitable areas in North-East and rice fallow lands.
• Promote intercropping and short-duration varieties.
• Rainfed Area Authority to focus on deficit rain areas.

·         R&D for Yield Improvement:

• Develop high-yielding, drought, and disease-resistant varieties.
• Enhance water use efficiency and crop nutrition management.

·         Farmer Empowerment:

• Demonstrate benefits through farm clusters and training.
• Highlight profitability, soil fertility benefits, and water efficiency.

·         Marketing Innovations:

• Sell pulses on spot exchanges for transparent and quick transactions.
• Link MSP to market prices to bridge demand-supply gap.

·         Trade Policy Harmonization:

• Work out long-term strategies for production and distribution.
• Review stock limits to mitigate supply distortions and volatility.

·         Awareness Campaign:

• Raise awareness through conferences and workshops.
• Mobilize stakeholders to address the urgency of the pulses shortage.