The production of pulses is yet to come out of stagnation although the output of tur and other kharif pulses is expected to increase by over a million tonnes in the current season.
Agriculture ministry estimates put the output of pulses in the kharif season this year at 5.61 million tonnes, nearly 1.18 million tonnes or 26 per cent higher than last season's 4.43 million tonnes.
However, even at this level, the kharif pulse harvest is marginally lower than the 5.62 million tonnes in 1996-97 and 5.63 million tonnes in 1992-93.
The area coverage under kharif pulses is reported to be more or less normal in most states barring Orissa and Tamil Nadu, where there was shortfall of rain in the beginning of the season.
The agriculture ministry's plan envisages emphasis on production and distribution of seeds of improved varieties, balanced use of plant nutrients, treatment of seeds with rhizobium (bacterial) culture, irrigation at the critical stage of crop growth and adequate supply of biological pest control agents.
Besides, an attempt is likely to be made in the ensuing rabi season to expand area under pulses by promoting inter-cropping and multiple cropping.
In 1997-98, about 8.92 million tonnes of pulses were produced in the rabi season, taking the total pulses output of the year to 13.35 million tonnes. Assuming the same production level in the next rabi season, the total pulses output this year should be around 14.53 million tonnes.
The expansion in acreage under pulses in the next rabi season is sought to be achieved by promoting cultivation of gram in between rows of mustard in Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, northern Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The inter-crop of gram is also deemed feasible in fields of safflower and linseed in Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP and Bihar. Krishi Bhawan also plans to popularise inter-crop of lentil with mustard in Madhya Pradesh, UP and Bihar.
According to agriculture ministry sources, there is scope for introducing Rajmash as a rabi season crop in several states, including UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat. Rajmash is a relatively higher grain-yielding pulses and also fetches a high price in the market.
The ministry also feels that the cultivation of summer or spring season crops of moong and urad needs to be encouraged as inter-crops in spring-planted fields of sugarcane. These pulses can also be raised as solo crops in this season in UP.
The paucity of certified seeds of improved varieties of pulses is seen as one of the major reasons for stagnation in their production. The Centre has, therefore, asked the states to arrange for adequate quantities of seeds in the next season.
The states' attention has also been drawn to the fact that technology demonstrations on pulses are generally conducted in a casual and routine manner which do not serve the intended purpose of knowhow transfer to the farmers. They have been asked to make these demonstrations problem-oriented and more purposeful.
