In India, pulses can be produced with a minimum use of resources and hence, it becomes less costly even than animal protein. In comparison to other vegetables, pulses are rich in protein which are less expensive and can be cultivated as an inter-crop and also as mixed crop.

Pulses are mostly cultivated under rainfed conditions and do not require intensive irrigation facility and this is the reason why pulses are grown in areas left after satisfying the demand for cereals/cash crops. Even in such conditions, pulses give better returns. Apart from this, pulses possess several other qualities such as they are rich in protein, improve soil fertility and physical structure, fit inmixed/inter-cropping system, crop rotations and dry farming and provide green pods for vegetable and nutritious fodder for cattle as well.

India is the largest producer, accounting for 26% of world’s production, and consumer with 30% of total pulses consumption in the world.

India has made remarkable progress in enhancing production of pulses during the past 15 years. During 2005-06, the total production of pulses in India was 13.38 million MT, which increased to 25.58 million MT during 2020-21. This shows an impressive growth of 91% or a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.42%. During 2020-21, chickpea had a lion’s share of 49.3% in the total pulses production.

Among remaining pulses, pigeonpea contributed 16.2%, mungbean 10.3%, urdbean 9.3%, lentil 4.9% and other pulses 9.9%. During the past 15 years, the highest growth in production was observed for mungbean (178%), followed by chickpea (125%), urdbean (90%), pigeonpea (51%) and lentil (34%).