India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world. India produces a quarter of the world’s pulses, accounting for one third of the total acreage under pulses. Indians consume 30 per cent of the world’s pulses, but domestic production of pulses has not kept pace with population growth. Pulses production has grown at only a 1 per cent CAGR from 1951–2010 compared to a population growth of about 2 per cent during the same period.

Low productivityThe productivity of pulses has been very low in India, with 45 per cent cumulative growth between FY 1951–2008, compared to the productivities of wheat and rice, which have grown manifold, at 320 and 230 per cent, respectively, during the same period. Also, the area under pulses has grown at 25 per cent during this period, a much lower rate than that for other food grains. Chickpeas (chana), pigeon peas (arhar / toor dal), urad beans (urad dal), mung beans (moong) and red lentils (masoor) are the top five pulses grown in India and account for over 80 per cent of the total pulses production in the country. Over 60 per cent of pulses produced in India are grown during the rabi season.

Pulse-producing statesThe top five states, which are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, account for over 75 per cent of total production. Madhya Pradesh is the highest pulse-producing state (3.2 million tonnes/annum) followed by Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. In terms of productivity, Haryana had the highest yield, at 824 kg/ ha, in 2007, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

India - Getting enmeshed in a Pulses Crisis

India is in a precarious situation with pulses. The problem has been worsening gradually and is becoming a silent emergency, like the proverbial frog in the heating water, and all of those who ought to be concerned may not be even fully aware of it. Indians will suffer the most if India does not find a way out of the pulses crisis, because other societies do not depend as much as us on pod-bearing plants for proteins. India is the largest producer of pulses in the world, yet it is also the largest importer of pulses. Going from being the largest producer or exporter to becoming the largest importer is not a new experience for this country. In the 1920s, India was among the largest producers and exporters of oil seeds in the world; today we are the largest importer. What is the issue on pulses? India is more vegetarian than any other society in the world. Consequently, our dietary dependence on pulses as the main source of protein is enormous. Pulses are the most economic source of protein. The World Health Organization recommends 80 grams of pluses per person per day and India will consume about 38 million tonnes a year by 2018. Compare this projected demand with the current Indian production of 15 million tonnes a year and a worldwide production of 55 million tonnes. The contours of the crisis become clear. India would have to double yields or acreage or look at a mix of both.

Why did pulses not follow the pattern of wheat, rice and the green revolution? Pulses in India are traditionally considered to be a residual crop, only suited for growth under rain-fed conditions when one can’t grow wheat or rice. The green revolution saw the country taking great strides in increasing the

yields of rice and wheat. Along with this, the government’s procurement policy and strategy helped in the promotion of these cereals. There have been no great technology breakthroughs with respect to pulses. Equally, no aggressive plan, commensurate with the crisis, is in place for pulses.

Canada cultivates pulses for supply to India and singly accounts for 50 per cent of our pulses imports. Canadian farmers are encouraged and given subsidies to cultivate pulses. An additional benefit, from the Canadian perspective, is that pulses, being nitrogen-fixing crops, help in furthering the ‘green’ agenda. At 638 kilos a hectare, India’s pulses yield is way below that of best-in-class countries, which produce about 1,800 kilos a hectare. It’s obvious that inadequate pest and nutrient management have led to lower yields, and then there are issues such as farmer perceptions of risk and cost, the absence of government procurement, lack of high-yielding varieties of seeds, and poor agricultural infrastructure.

Andhra Pradesh and Pulses:

The role of Agricultural Sector in State Economy is very significant. The contribution of primary sector including Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry to the State Gross Domestic Product for the year 2009-10 is 22.18%. However, 62.17% of the working population is still dependent on Agriculture. Agriculture in Andhra Pradesh is mostly dependent on rainfall. Monsoon and Seasonal Conditions play a major role in the agricultural production. The proportion of area under agriculture is 45.7%. The Gross Irrigated Area is 45.9 % of Gross Area Sown in the State.

The role of Agricultural Sector in State Economy is very significant. The contribution of primary sector including Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry to the State Gross Domestic Product for the year 2009-10 is 22.18%. However, 62.17% of the working population is still dependent on Agriculture. Agriculture in Andhra Pradesh is mostly dependent on rainfall. Monsoon and Seasonal Conditions play a major role in the agricultural production. The proportion of area under agriculture is 45.7%. The Gross Irrigated Area is 45.9 % of Gross Area Sown in the State.

Red gram, Bengal gram, Green gram, Black gram and few other pulses are raised in the state. Red gram and Bengal gram are mostly confined to Kharif and Rabi seasons respectively, while the remaining pulses are grown both in Kharif and Rabi seasons. The area under these pulses accounted for 15.4 % of the total cropped area in the state during 2009-2010. Out of 14.32 lac tones of production of pulses produced in the state during 2009-2010.The production under Red gram, Bengal gram, Green gram and Black gram alone accounted for 96.4 % of the total production of pulses.

The total area under production in Andhra Pradesh for the pulses as of 2009 -2010 was 7.55 lac Ha in Kharif and 11.78 in Rabi. The production was 2.40 lac tonnes in kharif and in Rabi it was 11.92 Ha. The productivity was 364 kgs/ Ha and 1012 kgs/Ha in kharif and Rabi respectively, whereas the productivity in 2008 -09 was comparatively higher in both kharif (464 kgs/ Ha) and Rabi (1066 kgs/Ha).

Our capability to respond is positiveWhile, the above points affirm that there is an impending crisis, the climate for agriculture has never been better. There has been a turn in fortunes for agriculture — quietly and unknowingly — and some credit is due to the government for a supportive policy:

1. There has been high and consistent increase in agricultural production in India over the last few years.

2. The gross fixed capital formation in agriculture has increased.3. The credit supply position for the farmer has improved.4. There has been considerable growth in the minimum support price.5. There has been an improvement in the availability of quality inputs.

Can production revolution in pulses be achieved? An analysis by the Tata Strategic Management Group has shown that by adopting best practices and increasing yield to the highest levels, India can increase production by 13 million tonnes a year. Additional areas that can be brought under pulses cultivation include existing rice fallows and the hilly reaches of north and northeast India, while intercropping will also increase the area under production. These measures could result in additional production of more than 9 million tonnes a year. India certainly has the potential to produce 37 million tonnes of pulses a year.

The proposed Project

The proposed project aims at accelerating the production of Pulses in Andhra Pradesh in the districts of…… in a PPP mode.

ACCESS would like to act as a Management Agency in this PPP mode of operation for enhancing the pulses production in the above mentioned districts in Andhra Pradesh on a pilot basis through the provision of

a. Extension Services b. Production Support c. Capacity Building d. Marketing Support

Improved varieties, introducing Hybrids, agronomic practices for improved crop establishment and soil and water management, Integrated nutrient management, Integrated pest/disease/weed management, Come-up/life saving irrigation in rabi pulses etc in collaboration with the agencies involved in the PPP model. Apart from that Availability of quality seed by linking formal & non-formal seed sector, Involving Agro-entrepreneurs in seed supply chain, form Village Seed Banks/Farmer cooperatives etc … will be the gamut of issues that would be catered to. In order to empower the farmers to help themselves, an institutional framework would be established for the

• Procurement of various inputs like fertilizers and pesticides.• Undertaking mass campaigns like integrated pest management (IPM)• Arranging individual and collective loans including insurance of their crops.• Establishment of a farm agro centre from where various machines/implements etc … can be taken on custom hire basis, availing of subsidy on various implements which otherwise are out of the

reach of individual farmers or his/her requirements like laser land leveler and ridge furrow planter as well as arranging institutional credit etc.

Providing technical training to farmers through trained technical assistants, in collaboration with the partner organizations will also be a part of the project. These trainings will be provided to farmers, implementation of Farmers Field School will be undertaken for the capacity building of the farmers. The main aim of transfer of technology programs is to promote client oriented on-farm research and technology assessment, refinement and transfer through participatory approaches. Effective marketing linkages, supported by modern marketing practices including introduction of grading, post-harvest management are also necessary to encourage farmers to invest more in pulses production.