India is the biggest producer, as well as the largest consumer and importer of pulses. The country has not been able to increase productivity, raising the question what ails the pulses agriculture? In 2013-14, India produced 19.25 million tonnes of pulses, which a year later came down to 17.3 million tonnes, necessitating more imports. For several decades after Independence, more or less until 2008, our production of pulses remained almost static—in the range of 14 million tonnes. It is only recently that the need to increase domestic pulses production has attracted attention, due to the sudden spurt in prices in open markets.

Reasons for shortage of pulses-

• Pulses in India are mostly grown in rain-fed areas with unstable and uncertain rainfall conditions, which increases the risk of crop failure.
• Poor access to storage and milling facilities causes further risk to farmers, as unshelled pulses have a low shelf life.
• Additionally, poor market linkages cause constrains in effectively meeting market demand.
• Compared to the prices farmers get for wheat and rice, the procurement prices for pulses are low. This becomes a disincentive for farmers to grow pulses. 
• Stagnant production and productivity over the years, hovering around 14-17 million tonnes annually, unable to meet nations demand.
• Not many farmers taking up pulses due to associated risks like low production, pests, diseases and price risks.
• Area under pulses is reducing as when rain fed area becomes irrigated, farmers have a tendency to switch over to other crops which are more profitable (like paddy and wheat).

Importing pulses from outside in the longer run is not an option as global markets have uncertain supply and it is unsustainable to meet our huge demand. Thus increasing the domestic production is the only option.

Strategies to increase domestic production-

• Better MSP prices for pulses- Government has to provide farmers with MSP that makes pulses production attractive vis-a-vis crops like wheat and rice. Merely announcing higher MSPs isn’t enough; the government should commit itself to procuring pulses at the announced MSPs, as it does for wheat.
• Area expansion- Substantial additional area can be brought under pulses by adopting cropping systems like mung/urad beans as catch crops in summers under cereal-based cropping system, inter-cropping with short-duration pulses (mung, urad and cowpea) in sugarcane, millet, cotton, etc, and new cropping system such as pigeon pea and wheat in northern region, rice and lentil in eastern region, and urad and rice in southern peninsula.
• Targeting large farmers will bring higher returns: Given the high price risk of growing pulses, production by large farmers who possess more than five acres of land would be prudent. They can diversify into pulses and have greater risk-absorbing capacity in case of inadvertent loss. Such progressive farmers can also be monitored and trained easily.
• Creation of infrastructure for storage: Investment in storage needs to be achieved to ensure quality seed supply and maintaining buffer stocks. Creation of seed storage facility is more important in coastal belt or states receiving higher rainfall. Farmers can be encouraged to store seeds of pulses or grains in such stores on payment basis. Credit facilities to the farmers can be extended on the basis of seed/grain stored in such places.
• Increasing mechanization: Mechanization would play a key role in modernization of agriculture due to its benefits of improved labour efficiency and productivity, efficient use of expensive farm inputs, reduction of human drudgery and timeliness of operations.
• Promotion of micro-irrigation system for life saving irrigation: Pulses are largely grown under rainfed conditions and moisture stress leads to reduction in productivity. Sub-optimal moisture in the soil at the time of sowing leads to poor germination and plant stand. High emphasis should be given on water conservation so that the pulses received required irrigations. Micro-irrigation (sprinkler irrigation) needs to be promoted for pulses.
• Integrated pest management: There is a need to promote integrated pest management (IPM) approach for managing this devastating pest. An effective pest surveillance mechanism should be put in place at district/block level and region specific advisories should be given to farmers for pest management. 
• Creation of seed hubs: There is a need for enhancing seed availability of new varieties. Seed rolling plans should be developed for each state and followed. Up scaling of already developed models for production of quality seed at village level involving various stakeholders is needed. Ensuring supply of quality seeds of improved varieties need to addressed to achieve desired seed replacement rate.
• Knowledge empowerment of stakeholders: Concerted efforts are needed on knowledge empowerment of farmers, extension personnel and other stakeholders. ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research and NARES can play a proactive role in empowerment of stakeholders including farmers. The training programs must be organized for value addition to pulses.