In India, pulse crop yields are one-third the levels achieved
by Canada, the US and other countries. Tata Strategic Management Group
looks at some of the best practices prevalent in other pulse-producing
countries
Why is it possible for Canadian and American farmers to harvest
about 1900kg of pulses per hectare when Indian farmers can't get
more than 600–700kg? The global average for yields of pulses
is about 819kg / ha (the average of the years 2005, 2006 and 2007),
yet France achieves a stupendous yield of about 4000kg / ha (on
a smaller production base of less than 1 million tonnes). Indian
yields have only increased from 500kg / ha and crossed the 600kg
/ ha level in the last few decades.
The reasons for the differences in yields are several: Subsistence
farming in developing countries versus a market-driven approach in
developed countries, climatic conditions, level of infrastructure
development, etc have resulted in wide variation in yields across
countries. Some of the major factors that affect yield are:
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Climate / soil |
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Timely availability / usage of high-yield-variety (HYV) seeds |
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Investment in mechanisation, irrigation, pest management and
other farm practices |
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Crop-specific effects |
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Changes in cropping pattern: double cropping, short-duration
pulses |
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Level of development / infrastructure, including efficient
supply-chain and market mechanisms |
Some of these factors bear examining in detail.
Market development and ensuring profitability:
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Pulse growers’ associations in the US and Canada focus
on developing newer markets (eg animal feed, food-ingredient
industry) |
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Governments ensure easy access to credit, including providing
non-recourse market-assistance loans |
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There is also a proposal to provide a Pulse Energy Conservation
Incentive Payment (PECIP) to farmers for every unit of nitrogen
added to the soil in the US
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Good agronomic practices through farmer education and awareness:
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Pulse growers’ associations in Canada educate farmers
on timely seeding, fertilisation and pest control for every
crop cycle |
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Mechanised harvesting is the norm due to large land holdings
and a market-driven approach to farming |
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Recommended seed replacement practices are followed and penetration
of HYV seeds is high
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Focus on research and development:
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Investment in research is made by the government as well as
through the growers’ levy collected from pulse producers |
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Tie-ups with international research institutes for improved
breeding and genetic improvement programs leading to development
of better seed varieties |
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High-yielding varieties and short-duration crops suitable
for local conditions are developed and popularised, resulting
in high adoption rates
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Increasing area:
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Fallow substitution in irrigated land in Pakistan and Turkey
has resulted in increased production in these countries |
Improving efficiencies through aggregation:
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Pulse growers’ associations help realise economies of
scale along the value chain, leading to better adoption of technology
and infrastructure, thereby minimising post-harvest losses |
By adopting some of the best practices across the world, India has
the potential to increase its average yield to about 1200kg / ha.
Options to increase production
India can look at increasing production through a combination of increasing
total acreage and improving yields for pulses. There is also the potential
to increase the total availability by reducing post-harvest losses
through an efficient supply-chain mechanism.
Increasing acreage
A substantial part of rice fallow land (an estimated 11.65 million
ha) can be targeted for the cultivation of pulses during the rabi
season. In addition, there is the potential to grow short-duration
varieties between kharif and rabi season, by relay cropping, which
ensures proper utilisation of available land.
Intercropping offers the potential to significantly increase acreage.
The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) targets over 2 million
ha to be brought under intercropping under the current plan.
Barren lands in hilly areas of northern India could be brought
under pulse cultivation. Uttaranchal and N-E areas have good potential
for pulse production. The replacement of upland paddy with pulses
has the potential to give better net returns to farmers.
Increasing yield
Usage of high-yielding varieties has the potential to increase yields
between 20 and 30 per cent. The inoculation of seeds with Rhizobium
bacteria enhances nitrogen fixation and improves yields. Improving
the seed-replacement ratio to recommended levels and ensuring the
timely availability of quality seeds will help in further increasing
production. Proper pest management, including IPM (integrated pest
management) will reduce losses due to pest attacks before harvesting.
Pulses are receptive to inputs just like any other crop and require
appropriate nutrients, such as sulphur, zinc and phosphorus, which
help in improving plant biomass and therefore improving yields.
Providing scheduled and controlled irrigation has the potential
to increase yields further. Irrigation requirements for pulses are
much lower than those of other crops and could be provided through
sprinklers etc.
Effective technology transfer to the farmers through Front-Line
Demonstrations (FLD), block demonstrations and training on good
agronomic practices will help institutionalise best practices and
improve the yield. By extending crop insurance to pulses effectively,
the farmer would stop perceiving pulses as a risky crop. Providing
effective sourcing mechanisms for the crop further provides the
farmer with security on assured off-take.
Reducing losses in the supply chain
Pulses need to be stored at optimum humidity conditions to prevent
post-harvest losses due to attacks from pulse beetles. These insects
mainly attack whole grains and not split pulses. By shortening the
cycle time from harvesting to milling and storing pulses in split
form thereafter, these losses can be reduced drastically.
Potential production in India
Considering the measures listed above, the potential for domestic
production of pulses in India is over 37 million tonnes. Additional
production is possible if the replacement of upland paddy, intercropping,
the cultivation of rice fallows and the increased adoption of short-duration
varieties between kharif and rabi are considered. Easy availability
of credit schemes, crop insurance and assured off-take would also
encourage the farmer to further increase the focus on pulses.
If India desires to overcome barriers to production, we need an
integrated and focused approach by the government as well as businesses
to achieve its true potential in the production of pulses.
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