| A study by the Tata Strategic Management Group shows that pulses
provide a critical part of the protein requirement of Indians
It's shocking, but, in spite of the green revolution and betterment
in standard of living, Indians today are consuming far less protein
than they used to. Protein consumption in rural India has dropped
from 63.5g/capita/day in 1983 to 55.8g / capita / day in 2005, and
in urban India from 58.1 to 55.4g / capita / day during the same
period.
A large proportion of the Indian population is vegetarian, and pulses
are an important source of protein in their daily diet. India is
the largest producer (~25 per cent of world production) and consumer
(~30 per cent of world consumption) of pulses. However, per capita
domestic production of pulses has droped from 63g in 1951 to 36g
in 2008.
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Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Agriculture Organization
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If we consider some of the major sources of protein, pulses turn out
to be one of the most economical for human consumption. Pulses are
18–25 per cent protein. Currently, however, only 11 per cent
of Indians' protein needs are met by pulses. Their remaining needs
are either met through other sources or not at all.
Source
|
Protien content
(per/kg) |
Avg. price
(Rs. per kg) |
Avg. cost
of protien consumption (Rs. per 100/kg) |
Milk
|
3.2% |
24 |
75 |
| Poultry meat |
18-20% |
100 |
53 |
Eggs
|
14% |
60 |
42 |
| Pulses |
18-25% |
85 |
38 |
| Source: Principles of Nutrition and
Dietetics, primary research |
Wholesome benefits
Besides high protein content, pulses are beneficial for human health
in a variety of ways. Some of the nutritional benefits and corresponding
health benefits are as follows:
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Low fat / high complex carbohydrate content — weight
control |
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Reduction of plasma cholesterol — cardiovascular health |
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Low glycemic index —diabetes prevention/control |
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Colonic bacterial fermentation — bowel health |
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Phytochemical content — cancer prevention |
Pulse crops also increase soil fertility. The benefits from adopting
pulses as a rotational crop include:
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Increased supply of soil nitrogen through nitrogen
fixation — approximately 40 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare |
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Agronomic benefits for the succeeding crop: |
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Better crop quality; for instance, protein premium in wheat |
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Improved yield |
Meeting the nation’s demand
The World Health Organization recommends 80g / capita / day of pulses
consumption for Indians. Based on this recommendation and expected
population growth, India will require about 38 million tonnes of pulses
per year by FY 2018. Considering the current domestic production levels
(15.1 million tonnes in 2007–08), this is a huge demand–supply
gap that needs to be filled.
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Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Agriculture Organization, WHO, Tata Strategic analysis
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If India has to meet the above projected domestic demand, it will
have to double its acreage at current yield levels or double the yield
at constant acreage. Since either of the above may not be feasible
in isolation, the country needs to look at a combination of both.
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