DECLINING PULSES PRODUCTION & ITS IMPLICATIONS

A study for Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group

By Maitrey Environment Education
Pulse crops are wonderful gift of the nature. They provide nutritious food, feed and fodder.
Pulses form an integral part of Indian diet. It is rich source of protein. Besides this they
maintain soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation and play a vital role in furthering
sustainable agriculture. These crops are energy rich but are cultivated largely under energy-
starved condition. They thrive well in the fragile ecosystem where other crops often fail.

Objectives

• To observe the nutritional value of pulses and its food security.

• To analyze the trends of pulse production (in India, its states and the economical
region of U.P.)
• To identify the reasons for changing trends of pulses production and its consequences.
• To see the effects on vulnerable group especially women.

Methodology

The study is divided into three parts- National, state and local ( i.e. Gorakhpur region).
Primary and secondary data were collected for achieving the purpose of the study. The data
collection was conducted in two phases.
• First phase was conducted for getting information about the profile of pulse
production in India.
• Second phase was conducted to survey the village, collecting first hand
information from the villagers on farmers. Primary data and information was
collected with the help of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), interviews,
meetings and discussions. Selection of districts and blocks is based on highest
reduction in the pulse cultivation. The collected data has been processed, analyzed
and tabulated using different statistical tools (simple average and percentage).

Nutritional value of Pulses and Food Security

In the present context of protein calorie malnutrition and under nutrition which is so prevalent
in developing countries, the potential contribution of legumes or pulses to human nutrition
can’t be overemphasized. Commonly consumed pulses contain 17-25% protein and legume
upto 36%. The desire for animal food is universal irrespective of the economic conditions.
However, plant food continues to be the major affordable source of calories and protein for
people in developing countries like India. Approximately 97% of the calories and over 88%
of the protein in India is delivered from plant sources

Food security is necessary for the development of the country and the people. In this context
Indian government has worked much for raising the production of food grains and various
new policies and techniques were adopted. Gradually the production was widely effected by
the new techniques like high yielding variety seed, irrigation, chemical fertilizers and various
machines for harvesting, thrashing etc. All these played a vital role in the production of
cereals. These elements emphasized more on cereals. So inspite of high population growth
the availability of cereals has risen from 334.2g/capita/day in 1950 to 468.5g/capita/day in
1991.

1
Year Population growth Cereals availability of Pulses availability of
decennial ( % ) cereals/capita/day (gm) pulses/capita/day (gm)
1951 13.3 334.2 60.7
1961 21.6 299.7 69.7
1971 24.8 417.6 51.2
1981 24.7 417.3 37.5
1991 23.8 468.5 41.6
Source: Statistical outline of India & Economical survey 1999-2000

Therefore the availability of cereals has risen but the nutritional aspect of food security is
neglected as the pulses availability has reduced.

In India more than 80% farmer have small and marginal land holdings that is the base of their
livelihood. Therefore for such farmers food security and nutrition are based especially on the
grains they produce as their financial condition prevents them to buy high cost grain for daily
consumption. So receiving the appropriate technique for cereal cropping, farmer raised cereal
cropping and reduced pulses cropping and succeeded in securing food especially wheat and
rice. The economically weaker section of the society gives importance to the products that
are cheap and sufficient to satisfy the hunger. Hence again cereals get preference.

So in both cases the financial condition of the people allow them to invest little on the high
cost pulses and turn them to other options, not in respect of nutrition but something that
compensate the place of pulses in the meal.

It is clear that by raising cereals cropping the availability of food is secured but nutritional
aspect is neglected. So the farmers who play a vital role in the economical status of the
country are not permitted to achieve nutrient rich food by their own economical status.

Pulse Production trend in India

India is placed first in the production of pulses among the pulse producing countries. It
contributes about 27% in the total pulse production of the world. The recent data of 2000-01
shows that pulses are cultivated on 20.35 M.Hect. with a total production of 11.07 M. tones
and an average productivity of 5.44 quintal/ hectare. Area, production and yield from 1950-
2001 :
• increased in the first decade i.e from 1950 to 1960
• decreased in the following two decades i.e from 1960-1980
• increased in the period 1980 to 1990
• decresed in the period from 1990 to 2000.
Overall there has been increase in the area, production and yield over a period of five
decades.
Year Total Pulses
Area (M.h.) Production (M.T) Yield (q/h)
1950-51 19.1 8.41 4.41
1960-61 23.56 12.70 5.39
1970-71 22.53 11.81 5.24
1980-81 22.45 10.63 4.73
1990-91 24.66 14.28 5.78
1996-97 23.19 14.46 6.23
1999-2000 21.12 13.42 6.35
2000-01 20.35 11.07 5.44

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 Year Gram
Area (M.h.) Production (M.T) Yield (q/h)
1950-51 7.6 3.65 4.82
1960-61 9.3 6.25 6.74
1970-71 7.8 5.19 6.63
1980-81 6.6 4.33 6.57
1990-91 7.5 5.35 7.12
2000-2001 5.2 3.85 7.44

Year Arhar
Area (M.h.) Production (M.T) Yield (q/h)
1950-51 2.18 1.7 7.88
1960-61 2.43 2.0 8.49
1970-71 2.65 1.8 7.09
1980-81 2.84 2.4 6.89
1990-91 3.59 2.4 6.73
2000-2001 3.6 2.2 6.18

Percentage Area shared by Percentage area shared by

different Pulse Crop in 1950-51 different Pulse Crop in 2000-01

Arhar Arhar Gram

11% 18% 26%
Gram
39%

Others
Others
50%
56%

It is clear from the above figures that :

• The total production of pulses has raised from 8 M. tones (1950-51) to 11.07 M. tones
(2000-01), area increased from 19.09 M. hectare to 0.35 M. hectare, yield increased
from 4.4q/h to 5.44q/h.
• While the area of gram crop reduced from 7.6M. hectare (1950-51) to 5.2M.hectare
(2000-01). Total area of gram crop has reduced from 39% to 26%.
• The area and production of arhar crop has increased from 2.18M.hectare and 1.72 M.
tones (1950-51) to 3.6 M. Hectare and 2.2M tones (2000-01) respectively while the
yield has reduced from 7.8 q/h (1950-51) to 6.18 q/h (2000-01). Total area of arhar
crop has increased from 11% to 18%.

Pulse Production Trends in different states of India

The major pulse producing states of India are Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and
Maharashtra. Madhya Pradesh plays a significant role in pulses cultivation and production. It
shares about 17% pulses area and 20.5% production of India.
State 1971-75 1976-80 1981-85 1986-90 1991-95 1996-98 2000-01
Madhya Area 4431.72 4767.3 4816.36 4759.3 4870.52 5076.86 3554.2
Pradesh (000h a)
Production 2181.59 2244.72 2387.7 2593 3142.58 3298.56 2275.4
(000 tons)
Yield 492 492 496 545 645 650 640
(kg/ha)
Maharashtra Area 2371.06 2805.42 2785.06 3069.66 3328.9 3299 3557.3
(000h a)

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 Production 777.76 1045.92 1041.04 1403.43 1621.76 1640 1637.4
(000 tons)
Yield 328 373 374 457 487 497 460
(kg/ha)
Rajasthan Area 3527.86 3877.98 3518.3 2955.04 3376.82 3841.1 2374.8
(000h a)
Production 1045.98 1770.68 1467.6 1193.12 1621.76 1980.1 731.5
(000 tons)
Yield 296 456 417 4.3 487 417 308
(kg/ha)
Uttar Area 3477.16 3030.04 2914.44 3024.44 2908.84 2823.47 2691.7
Pradesh (000h a)
Production 2589.34 2319.56 2494.7 2574.44 2563.22 2377.43 2160.3
(000 tons)
Yield 745 766 856 851 881 842 803
(kg/ha)

Uttar Pradesh occupied third place in pulses area and first in its production in early 70’s, it
occupies the same place in area in 2000-01 while production came one step down in mid 90’s
and continues to hold the position. Yield has maintained first place through out the studied
years. Neglecting high yielding capability the production and cultivation has reduced in UP
while others states expanded it inspite of comparative low yield.

Trends of Pulse Production in Uttar Pradesh

U.P. is the second largest producer of pulses after Madhya Pradesh in the country and a
variety of pulses are grown in an area of 2.2 million hectare. The main pulses of the state are
gram (chicken pea), arhar, masoor and pea. Urd, bean, mung bean, mothbean, rajmah,
soybean are also grown in the state. In 2000-01 pulses occupied an area of 2.22 million
hectare with a total production of 1.96 million tones and average productivity of 8.83 q/h. In
1950-51 the area and production of pulses were 4.34m.hect. and 3.03 m.tones respectively. In
the period of almost 50 years there was decrease in area by about 48.8% and production by
about 35.3% but yield increased from6.96q/h (1950-51) to 8.83 q/h (2000-01).

Year Total Pulses

Area (M.h.) Production (M.T) Yield (q/h)
1950-51 4.34 3.03 6.96
1960-61 4.54 3.82 8.41
1970-71 3.72 3.06 8.24
1980-81 2.85 2.52 8.84
1990-91 3.03 2.77 9.12
1996-97 2.81 2.62 9.29
2000-01 2.22 1.96 8.83

While examining the area, production and yield of individual pulse crop the situation is
different from the total pulses. The individual crop wise trend for four major pulses gram,
arhar, pea and masoor have been observed and analysed here.

Pulses Year 1950-51 1960-61 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 1995-96 1996-97 2000-01
Gram Area (M.h) 2.44 2.55 2.08 1.5 1.27 1.00 .91 .83
Prod. 1.45 1.83 1.54 1.28 1.12 .69 .85 .70
(M.T.)
Yield (q/h) 5.96 7.17 7.43 8.61 8.79 6.94 9.30 8.44
Masoor Area (M.h) .12 .18 .17 .28 .54 .48 .53 .65
Prod. .038 .076 .100 .15 .43 .31 .43 .41
(M.T.)

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 Yield (q/h) 3.32 4014 6.04 5.96 7.97 6.5 8.11 6.26
Arhar Area (M.h) .64 .65 .58 .52 .47 .49 .49 .41
Prod. .74 .88 .68 .76 .58 .50 .56 .51
(M.T.)
Yield (q/h) 11.5 13.52 11.65 14.48 12.34 10.13 11.39 12.54
Pea Area (M.h) .86 .96 .72 .22 .35 .44 .40 .33
Prod. .68 .96 .68 .21 .49 .47 .53 .34
(M.T.)
Yield (q/h) 7.97 9.95 9.5 9.49 13.95 10.76 13.28 10.32

In the period of almost half century the cultivation area of pulse has reduced by about
2.12m.hect and production by about 1.07 million tones. Gram, arhar and pea cropping
reduced by about 1.61 m. hect, 0.23m.hect and 0..53 m. hect respectively while masoor
cultivation increased by about 0.53 m.hect. Among the total pulses cultivation the share of
gram crop is 37%, arhar is 18%, masoor is 20% and pea is 15%.

Reduction/incre ase in Cropping Puls e Cultivation Are a s hare d by

Area from 1950-51 to 1996-97 diffe re nt puls e crops in 2000-01
0.5
0
Others P ea
-0.5
-1 1% 15%
Gram
-1.5 Arhar
37%
-2 18%
Arhar Gram Masoor P ea Total

Reduction/increas -0.23 -1.61 0.53 -0.53 - 2.12

e in cropping area Masoor
29%

Pulse Production in the economical region of Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is divided into five economic regions on the basis of topography and agro-
climatic conditions. These regions are Eastern, Western, Central, Bundelkhand and hills (now
Uttaranchal state). The total area of production and yield of pulses as observed here from
1977-78 to 2000-01 is:

Region 1977-78 1980-81 1990-91 1994-95 2000-01

Western Area(000h a) 634.0 668.45 600.24 459.00 210.2
Production (000 tons) 634.5 590.09 545.12 460.00 219.3
Yield (kg/ha) 10.01 8.83 9.08 10.02 10.43
Central Area(000h a) 603.6 526.4 532.94 471.00 320.7
Production (000 tons) 528.35 532.41 511.22 458.00 371.4
Yield (kg/ha) 8.75 10.11 9.59 7.55 11.58
Bundelkhand Area(000h a) 780.3 777.2 1007.9 960.00 996.6
Production (000 tons) 523.03 578.04 893.56 772.00 677.4
Yield (kg/ha) 6.7 7.48 8.87 7.76 6.80
Eastern Area(000h a) 939.74 862.02 867.49 830.00 697.3
Production (000 tons) 716.6 806.0 801.6 756.0 696.7
Yield (kg/ha) 7.64 9.35 9.24 9.19 9.99
Hill Area(000h a) 31.23 29.11 31.36 30.00
Production (000 tons) 17.32 19.87 20.2 21.0
Yield (kg/ha) 6.55 6.83 6.45 7.01

In Bundelkhand region area and production has increased from 7.8 lakh hect (1977-78) to 9.9
lakh hect (2000-01) and from 5.23 lakh tones to 6.77 lakh tones respectively. On the other
hand cropping area has reduced in western, eastern and central region from 6.34, 6.03, 9.39

5
and .31 lakh hec to 2.1, 6.9, and 3.2, lakh hec respectively. While production reduced in
western from 6.34 lakh tones to 2.19 lakh tones, in central from 5.28 to 3.71 lakh tones and in
eastern from 7.16 lakh tones to 6.96 lakh tones. Yield has increased in Bundelkhand, Eastern,
Western and Central region from 6.7, 7.64, 10.01 and 8.75 q/h (1977-78) to 6.8, 9.99, 10.43
and 11.58 q/h (2000-2001) respectively. In central region we can also see fluctuation between
7.55 q/h and 10.11q/h. In western region also yield fluctuates between 8.83q/h and 10.02 q/h.
In eastern region the crop area for cultivation of pulses shows decreasing trend, with marginal
rise and fall in production and yield.

Earlier Eastern region took first place in the area under pulses followed by Bundelkhand,
Western, Central and Hill region respectively. However present scenario has changed to
Bundelkhand occupying first place followed by Eastern, Central and Western region
respectively.

Irrigation in Uttar Pradesh

Area in Hectare
S.No Particular Western Central Bundelkhand Eastern UP
1 Canal 816149 554607 373211 1004834 2748801
2 Tubewells 4338941 1646850 122860 2833625 8942276
3 Other Irrigation 144524 13210 236188 42229 436151
facility
4 Pond/Lake 3895 6422 16720 40108 67145
5 Other sources 81712 15670 90672 18080 206134
6 Irrigated area 5385221 2236759 839651 3938876 12400507
7 More than once 2827534 1015306 22585 1424016 5289441
irrigated area
8 Completely irrigated 8212755 3252065 862236 5362892 17689948
area
A Kharif 3387051 1243817 78594 1791772 6501234
B Rabi 4422400 1873928 781138 3485694 10563160
C Jayad 403304 134320 2504 85426 625554
Source : Agriculture Statistics 2000-01

Area in Hectare
Irrigated area Western Central Bundelkhand Eastern UP
Gram 17645 4983 65487 32471 120586
Pea 23967 18474 116441 79388 238270
Arhar 51095 1531 4 231 52861
Masoor 21981 4851 41225 13119 81176
Source : Agriculture Statistics 2000-01

Western region has the largest irrigated area followed by Eastern, Central and Bundelkhand
respectively. The irrigated area for gram and pea is highest in Bundelkhand followed by
Eastern, Western and Central respectively. Arhar is dominated by the western region
followed by central, eastern and bundelkhand while irrigated area for masoor is highest in
Bundelkhand followed by western, eastern and central regions. The impact of irrigation can
be seen in the trends of pulse production in various regions.

Trend of Pulse Production in Western Region

Pulses Year 1977-78 1980-81 1983-84 1986-87 1989-90 1991-92 1994-95 2000-01

Gram Area(0000h a) 31.8 24.6 19.5 23.9 16.9 12.0 9.2 4.04

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 Production 27.8 22.1 17.9 23.4 15.6 12.8 11.0 4.75
(0000 tons)
Yield (q/h) 8.75 9.00 9.18 9.75 9.17 10.67 11.91 11.77
Masoor Area(0000h a) 5.6 6.7 7.6 9.5 8.5 8.5 7.1 6.57
Production 2.2 3.0 3.0 5.2 4.5 5.7 5.0 5.54
(0000 tons)
Yield (q/h) 3.85 4.38 4.03 5.52 5.24 6.73 7.07 8.43
Arhar Area(0000h a) 9.1 12.05 9.5 9.00 10.3 9.3 9.7 7.79
Production 18.9 18.3 11.5 11.7 12.2 11.0 10.6 7.23
(0000 tons)
Yield (q/h) 20.93 14.58 12.18 12.09 11.76 11.79 10.9 9.28
Pea Area(0000h a) 14.1 8.8 8.8 11.1 9.3 7.7 7.5 2.62
Production 13.7 10.5 12.7 13.5 13.0 11.3 12.5 4.41
(0000 tons)
Yield (q/h) 9.74 11.84 14.31 12.02 13.9 14.75 16.68 16.81

The trend studied from the above figures show that area of cultivation has decreased for all
the four pulses while production has decreased for gram, arhar and pea. Increase in masoor
production can be seen over the studied years. Yield has increased in gram, masoor and pea
whereas it has decreased in arhar.

Trend of Pulse Production in Central Region

Pulses Year 1977-78 1980- 1983-84 1986-87 1989-90 1991-92 1994-95 2000-01
81
Gram Area(0000h a) 34.5 28.3 24.2 25.6 22.3 19.4 16.6 11.8
Production (0000 28.5 29.3 21.9 21.5 18.4 20.6 20.2 12.6
tons)
Yield (q/h) 8.28 10.36 9.07 8.41 8.25 10.62 12.21 10.67
Masoor Area(0000h a) 1.9 2.2 3.2 4.4 4.8 6.1 5.8 8.1
Production (000 0 .8 1.0 1.3 2.6 2.8 3.9 4.1 6.4
tons)
Yield (q/h) 4.01 4.47 4.22 5.98 5.75 6.41 7.23 7.89
Arhar Area(0000h a) 12.1 10.8 11.3 11.3 11.5 13.3 10.5 9.0
Production 0000 17.7 18.3 16.8 15.6 13.7 15.4 12.8 14.1
tons)
Yield (q/h) 14.5 16.92 14.82 13.84 11.89 11.57 12.12 15.65
Pea Area(0000h a) 3.9 2.4 3.2 4.1 3.6 3.5 3.1 3.1
Production (0000 2.6 2.3 3.8 4.0 4.5 4.6 4.2 4.0
tons)
Yield (q/h) 6.51 9.7 11.6 9.49 12.54 12.96 13.21 12.78

In the central region area of cultivation has decreased in gram while in pea and arhar their has
been fluctuation over the studied period result being decreased area. Only masoor shows a
growth in the area of cultivation. There is increase in production in pea and masoor while a
decreasing trend in gram and arhar. The yield has increased for all the pulses in this region.

Trend of Pulse Production in Bundelkhand Region

Pulses Year 1977-78 1980-81 1983-84 1986-87 1989-90 1991-92 1994-95 2000-01

Gram Area(0000h a) 56.5 53.3 53.2 61.3 58.2 49.7 51.9 48.7
Production (0000 34.6 37.8 40.7 45.2 38.3 32.2 36.3 35.6
tons)
Yield (q/h) 6.13 7.09 7.66 7.38 6.59 6.48 7.01 7.32
Masoor Area(0000h a) 9.3 10.1 12.6 18.5 17.9 20.6 13.0 28.9
Production (0000 5.2 7.0 10.8 15.0 15.5 17.0 9.8 11.9
tons)
Yield (q/h) 5.59 6.96 8.60 8.91 8.66 8.28 7.5 4.11
Arhar Area(0000h a) 9.5 9.5 9.1 7.8 7.5 6.6 5.7 5.3

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 Production 0000 11.5 11.6 14.2 14.1 11.0 6.0 7.9 6.8
tons)
Yield (q/h) 12.13 12.19 15.47 17.92 14.67 9.17 13.97 12.85
Pea Area(0000h a) .66 .36 .69 1.36 7.38 10.74 23.31 16.6
Production (0000 .41 .35 .88 1.85 7.38 14.20 21.98 13.4
tons)
Yield (q/h) 6.32 9.76 12.7 13.62 10.01 13.22 9.43 8.03

Bundelkhand region shows fluctuations in the cultivation area of gram and masoor where the
end result in increase in masoor while decrease in gram over the studied period. Arhar shows
constant decrease while pea reflects constant increase in the cultivation area. There is
increase in production from 1977 to 1994-95 followed by downfall in 2000-01 in pea. Similar
is the case with arhar and masoor which show increase in production till 1986-87 and 1991-
92 respectively followed by downfall in the following years while gram shows fluctuating
pattern increasing in initial years then showing a down trend again rising and finally falling.
The yield has decreased in masoor while gram, pea and arhar show irregular pattern
increasing-decreasing finally an increase in 2000-01 as compared to 1977-78 can be seen.

Trend of Pulse Production in Eastern Region

Pulses Year 1977-78 1980-81 1983-84 1986-87 1989-90 1991-92 1994-95 2000-01

Gram Area(0000h a) 41.9 42.9 38.7 38.0 32.5 28.4 25.2 18.7
Production 29.2 39.2 37.8 32.9 24.3 28.4 27.0 17.3
(0000 tons)
Yield (q/h) 6.92 9.14 9.78 8.65 7.45 9.75 10.48 9.21
Masoor Area(0000h a) 6.14 6.92 10.18 14.23 16.17 17.41 18.56 21.5
Production 2.64 3.62 5.76 8.66 10.97 13.79 15.59 16.9
(0000 tons)
Yield (q/h) 4.31 5.24 5.67 6.09 6.79 7.92 8.40 7.88
Arhar Area(0000h a) 226.8 222.3 246.8 234.2 20.6 22.7 21.5 18.6
Production 26.7 27.2 28.9 26.8 22.8 23.3 19.7 22.8
(0000 tons)
Yield (q/h) 12.55 14.19 13.36 12.67 11.04 10.27 9.19 12.3
Pea Area(0000h a) 21.3 10.6 9.9 10.7 10.2 10.7 10.7 10.9
Production 11.9 7.9 9.3 9.1 9.6 12.1 11.1 12.6
(0000 tons)
Yield (q/h) 5.61 7.49 9.44 8.48 9.33 11.27 10.37 11.57

The area of cultivation has decreased remarkably in Arhar while gram and pea also show a
down trend over the studied period. Masoor displays an increasing trend from 1977-78 to
2000-01. Over all the production has increased in masoor and pea while decreased in arhar
and gram. Yield has increased in gram, masoor and pea while decreased in arhar.
Case study
Village : Gulahriya
Block : Campeerganj
District : Gorakhpur
Ojective To study the trends in arhar cropping and its impact on villagers.

The village is surrounded by lake named Sikandaria on three sides and a road on the fourth side. There are two low land area, one
along the lake covered with black soil and the other in the centre part of the north eastern area. Remaining land is plain and fertile covered
by alluvial soil or sandy loam.
The main crop cultivated in the area are wheat, paddy, potato, banana, arhar, pea, masoor and vegetables. Masoor is sown on the
low land adjacent to lake while wheat and paddy are sown on the central low land area. Rest of the crops are grown on the plain and fertile
land of the village.
When the floods destroy the arhar crop, masoor cropping is increased in the area after Kharif season. More than 60% of
agricultural land is occupied by paddy in Kharif season. All the crops which have negative effect of flood or waterlogging have been
reduced. Arhar cropping has been reduced by 50% over the last 10 years.

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 Wheat, potato and masoor cultivation has increased in Rabi season where as the cultivation of gram has reduced. Bio-diversity,
which was found earlier as various crops were cultivated on 30% land about 10 years ago, is now reduced to 9% only and few selected crop
have occupied larger cropping area.
Crop % Area (About 10 years ago) % Area (1999-2000)
Wheat 20 20
Masoor 5 8
Arhar 20 10
Vegetable & Potato 5 4 Veg; 6 Potato
Gram & Pea 10 1
Banana 10 12
Other 30 9

Another village Balwar was studied where it was found that the major pulses were arhar and gram about 10 years back but today arhar
remains the main pulse while gram has almost disappeared. These crops are largely replaced by cereal crop like wheat and cash crop like
groundnut. The area of cultivation of wheat has increased from 50% to 75% in last 10 years.
Reasons for decrease of Gram cropping
• The major reason of reduction in the gram production is due to district infected by insect pest pod borar.
• It needs an additional investment on pesticide and sprayer machine (on rent). Delay in application is harmful for yield.
• Theft of produce is also a reason for decrease in gram cropping
Reasons for decrease of Arhar cropping
• Major reason for decrease in production of arhar is due to yearly floods destroying the yield each year.
• In non flood area arhar is partly replaced by the cash crop groundnut.
• Insects also affect arhar cropping.
• Arhar engages the land for almost a year where the farmer can get two other crops in the same period.
• Marketing system is inadequate and pricing discourages investment in purchased input.
• No reach to the dal mill.
Impact
• The reduction of arhar production effects farmer’s health, life and economical status.
• Earlier pulses were surplus and were taken in meal twice daily while in present scenario it is limited to one time that too in
diluted dal form. Pulses have become a rarer food for the landless and small holding of the farmers.
• In the absence of arhar wood the villagers have to buy bamboo for thatching.
• Scarcity of arhar wood has decreased their earning made from selling baskets made from arhar wood.
• Scarcity of arhar wood has raised the work load on women for fuel and fodder collection.

Conclusion

India is placed first in the production of pulses among the pulse producing countries. It
contributes about 27% in the total pulse production of the world. The recent data of 2000-01
shows that pulses are cultivated on 20.35 M.Hect. with a total production of 11.07 M. tones
and an average productivity of 5.44 quintal/ hectare. Area, production and yield from 1950-
2001 :
• increased in the first decade i.e from 1950 to 1960
• decreased in the following two decades i.e from 1960-1980
• increased in the period 1980 to 1990
• decresed in the period from 1990 to 2000.
Overall there has been increase in the area, production and yield over a period of five
decades.

Uttar Pradesh occupied third place in pulses area and first in its production in early 70’s, it
occupies the same place in area in 2000-01 while production came one step down in mid 90’s
and continues to hold the position. Yield has maintained first place through out the studied
years. Neglecting high yielding capability the production and cultivation has reduced in UP
while others states expanded it inspite of comparative low yield.

In the period of almost half century the cultivation area of pulse has reduced by about
2.12m.hect and production by about 1.07 million tones. Gram, arhar and pea cropping
reduced by about 1.61 m. hect, 0.23m.hect and 0..53 m. hect respectively while masoor

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cultivation increased by about 0.53 m.hect. Among the total pulses cultivation the share of
gram crop is 37%, arhar is 18%, masoor is 20% and pea is 15%.

In Bundelkhand region area and production has increased from 7.8 lakh hect (1977-78) to 9.9
lakh hect (2000-01) and from 5.23 lakh tones to 6.77 lakh tones respectively. While
production has reduced in western from 6.34 lakh tones to 2.19 lakh tones, in central from
5.28 to 3.71 lakh tones and in eastern from 7.16 lakh tones to 6.96 lakh tones.

On the other hand cropping area has reduced in western, eastern and central region from 6.34,
6.03, 9.39 and .31 lakh hec to 2.1, 6.9, and 3.2, lakh hec respectively.

Yield has increased in Bundelkhand, eastern, western and central region from 6.7, 7.64, 10.01
and 8.75 q/h (1977-78) to 6.8, 9.99, 10.43 and 11.58 q/h (2000-2001) respectively. In central
region we can also see fluctuation between 7.55 q/h and 10.11q/h. In western region also
yield fluctuates between 8.83q/h and 10.02 q/h. In eastern region the crop area for cultivation
of pulses shows decreasing trend, with marginal rise and fall in production and yield.

The problems farmer faces in the cultivation of pulses are

• Pests such as pod borar (especially in gram) which harm the crop,
• Flood and water logging
• The reduction of pulses production effects farmer’s health, life and economical status.
• Earlier pulses were surplus and were taken in meal twice daily while in present
scenario it is limited to one time that too in diluted dal form. Pulses have become a
rarer food for the landless and small holding of the farmers.
• In the absence of arhar wood the villagers have to buy bamboo for thatching. Scarcity
of arhar wood has decreased their earning made from selling baskets made from arhar
wood and has raised the work load on women for fuel and fodder collection.
• Along with this rising need of cereals, comparatively low value (in cash) against cash
crop which turns them to cash crops, inadequate marketing system of pulses and
pricing discourages investments in purchased input.

Total pulse production in India is increasing but the production is insufficient to meet the
demand leading to a spurt in price. One way to raise production of pulses is to increase the
productivity of land as said by B. Sharma, Division of Genetics, Indian Agriculture Research
Institute, New Delhi. It will be better for the states where the large area is under pulse
production while the productivity is low. So area can’t play the significant role in the
production. But what can, should be the agriculture related departments focus of study to
benefit farmers financially as well as fulfilling their nutritional security keeping the present
scenario in mind.
Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group,
Post Box #60, Gorakhpur – 273001 (UP) India
224, Purdilpur, Gorakhpur
Ph.No.0551-2339774
E-mail: geag2@sancharnet.in

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