Pulses in India :

India is the world's largest producer of grain legumes (peas/pulses) with total production varying between 12.0 and 14.0 million metric tonnes (MMT) in recent years.

Pulses are grown over an area of around 23 million hectares accounting for about 18% of total area, and less than 8% of total food grain production, and the yield per hectare ranging between 500 - 600 kgs. These are grown mainly under unirrigated conditions and the irrigated area accounts for less than 10% of the total area. The major pulses grown in India are - Pigeon peas (Arhar) and Tyson chick peas (Gram or Desi Chana). Their share in the total pulses production is about 21% and 33% respectively.

Production :

The major Kharif (harvested in Sept/Oct) pulses are -Green beans (moong beans) Black Matpe (Urad), Pigeon Pea (Arhar/Tur) while major Rabi (harvested in Mar/April) Pulses are Chick peas, green peas, Lentils.

Source :- M.P. Ministry of Agriculture, G.O.I.

The above chart depicts that throughout the time span of 1990-91 to 2000-01 the level of production of Tur, Urad, Moong and Masoor in the country was first, second, third and fourth respectively.

Area coverage under pulses production in India was 19.09 Million Hectors during 1950-51 and in 2002-03 the figure was 21.12 Million hectors. That means there is very negligible improvement in area under pulses production in India in so many years. The same with production figures also. During 1950-51 the production figure was 8.41 Million Tonnes and during 2002-03 the figure was 11.31 Million Tonnes.

Considering 12 to 14 Million Metric Tonnes as total Pulses production in India we can figure out share of other important pulses. Production of Gram contains nearly 40% of total production, i.e. it ranges in between 50 to 53 Lakh Metric Tonnes, Tur ranges in between 20 to 22 Lakh Metric Tonnes, Urd ranges between 10 to 13 Lakh Metric Tonnes, Moong in between 10 to 12 Lakh Metric Tonnes and Lentil in between 6-8 Lakh Metric Tonnes. The remaining part covered by other pulses. 

During last two decades there has been no significant change in the total output, though substantial increase in population was noticed. This resulted into shortages and that is why to fill the gap imports of pulses are required.

Consumption :

Pulses are an important source of protein in the Indian diet. Production growth has not been able to keep pace with the population growth and, as a consequence, India's per capita net availability of pulses has come down to 36.0 grams per day as compared with around 70.0 grams in the sixties. With the result India will remain an important buyer with a growing appetite.

Although particular varieties of Pulses are preferred in different parts of the country, food habits are easily changed according to availability of pulses. Generally main uses of pulses in India are as follows:

(1) Tur (Arhar)-Pegion Peas :

In India, tur accounts for 20 per cent of the total output of all pulses and 2nd largest after Gram. India accounts for 90 percent of world production of tur. While Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat account for a major share in the production, small quantities are also cultivated in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Kamataka, Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Bihar. 

Tur is cultivated both as a kharif and rabi crop. Like gram it is consumed in almost all the states in the country. It is a major ingredient of South Indian Sambhar curry which is eaten with a number of dishes like idli, vada, dosa, uttappam, etc. 

Production: The area under tur increased from 2.18 million hectares in 1950-51 to 3.73 million hectares in 2002-03 and the production from 1.72 million tonnes to 2.12 million tonnes.

India normally imports whole tur from Burma and Africa.

India exports small quantities of tur mainly to UAE, USA, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

Sowing-Harvesting season :

State wise major mandi’s name :

Varieties :

Variety wise crop composition :

In Maharastra percentage share of production of Red (Desi) variety lies in between 15% - 20%, white (BDN) 70% - 75% and Black is minimum i.e. 5% - 10%. Price of BDN variety generally remains Rs. 50/Qntl higher than Desi variety.

In Gujarat percentage share of production of BDN variety is highest, i.e. near about 70%. Its harvest comes during Dec-Jan. Desi variety’s production in about 10% and Nylon (Bold) variety’s production is around 5%-10%. Its harvest comes during Feb-March.

In U.P. production percentage of Desi & Bold variety lies in the range of 90:10.

Source: Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture Government of India

International Prices:

Source: NAFED

(2) Black Gram (Urad) – Kharif Crop :

Black-gram (urad, mash) is a highly prized pulse, very rich in phosphoric acid. It is used, more or less, in the same way as green-gram (mung). It is also used in preparing papad (a kind of wafer) and barian (spiced balls of ground dal) and together with rice in preparing dosa and idli, popular breakfast dishes.

It is grown all over India, mainly in the monsoon season, the main areas of production being Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Annually, a little less than one million Tones of grain is produced from an area of about 2.5 million hectares.

Blackgram is grown purely as a rainfed crop during kharif and on residual moisture in rice fallows during rabi. In case there is a long dry spell, the crop is benefited if 1 irrigation is given. Excess water at any stage affects the crop adversely.

State wise major mandi’s name :

Varieties :

Variety wise crop composition :

In Maharastra percentage share of production in between Desi variety & T9 variety is approximately 70:30.  Desi’s price remains higher by Rs.65-70 than T9.

In Gujarat percentage share of production in between Desi variety & T9 variety is approximately 90:10.  Desi’s price remains higher by Rs.60 than T9.

In M.P. there is only variety grown i.e. Desi. Therefore there is no price difference.

In U.P. there also single variety grows i.e. Desi, but it is inferior quality as compared with Desi variety grown in other states. Its price difference remains Rs.100/Qntl with prices in other main producing states.

International Prices :

Source: NAFED

(3) Green Gram (Moong) – Kharif partially Rabi :

Kharif green gram :

The kharif crop is grown both as sole and as intercrop. Since it is largely grown as a rainfed crop, the sowing time usually depends on the onset of the monsoon in the different regions. Normally the sowing is done from mid-June to second week of July, which is considered optimum. The main producing states are Maharastra, Karnataka, M.P & U.P.

Summer green gram :

Summer greengram can be grown after harvesting of wheat crop without any preparatory tillage. It could be seeded by opening a small furrow in between the rows of wheat stubble and irrigated immediately thereafter.

State wise major mandi’s name :

Varieties :

Variety wise crop composition :

In Maharastra percentage share of production of Muglai lies in the range of 60% -70%, Chamki is 15% - 20% & Desi is minimum i.e. 10% - 15%. Muglai variety comes in the market in November harvest. Price of Chamki variety generally remains Rs. 50/Qntl higher than Muglai variety. Price of Desi variety is lowest, i.e. generally its price is less than Muglai by Rs.70-75/Qntl.

In Gujarat percentage share of production of Desi variety is higher than Kachhi variety. Desi grows near about 60% - 70%, where as Kachhi variety’s production is near about 30%. Kachhi variety’s price remains higher than Desi variety by approximately Rs. 100/Qntl. In Gujarat harvest comes in September.

In Karnataka harvest comes in August.

International Prices :

Source: NAFED

(4) Lentil (Masoor) :

The lentil is recognized as a valuable pulse and is grown as a winter crop all over India. It is known to be the most nutritious of the pulses and is an important item in the diet of some people, particularly those of eastern Bengal. Lentil is one of the crops of which separate statistical records have not been kept so far in India; hence, it is, however, cultivated in all parts of India either as a separate or as a mixed crop. Its cultivation appears to have been extended at a less remote epoch, still hardly in historic time, to east and west that is India and Europe. It appears that the lentil was not known in India before invasion of the Sanskrit speaking race.

Lentil is grown throughout northern India, Madhya Pradesh and some parts of Maharashtra. In southern India, it is of very little importance. Ninety per cent of the production comes from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.

Lentil is grown in India during the winter season (October-April). The sowing time starts from Nov-Dec and harvesting of the crop takes place during Feb - March. The peak arrival of lentils is in April. The range of its adaptation to climatic is very wide and it can be grown up to an altitude of 3,500 m in north-western India.

In India, lentil is cultivated mostly in the central, northern and eastern regions of the country either as a pure crop or as an intercrop. As a pure crop, it occupies rice or other kharif fallows, and as an intercrop, it is sown with linseed, wheat, barley or mustard.

Source: Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture Government of India

In eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar lentil is generally sown in the standing crop of rice. Under such situations, no tilling is done which results in decreased crop growth. The total area under lentil in India is approximately estimated to be 13,93,330 hector with approximate total annual production nearly about 9.50 lakh MTs in 2001-02.

State wise major mandi’s name :  

Varieties :

Variety wise crop composition :

In M.P. the production proportion of Bhuri & Kali is 90:10. These two varieties are bold variety. The price of Bhuri variety lies higher than Kali variety by Rs. 80-90/ Qntl. Maximum demand for M.P. lentil comes from Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, and Himachal. Masoor produced in M.P exports to Arabian countries. The harvest comes in M.P. during March – May.

Lentil grown in U.P is of small variety. U.P’s masoor production mostly goes to Eastern India i.e. W.B, Assam etc. The small variety is mostly consumed in Eastern States and it has more commercial value than Bold variety.

International prices :

Source: NAFED

Government Policy :

Looking at the stagnant domestic production trend of pulses, Government has been pursuing policies of dual program. Promoting domestic production by way of assured market of MSP mechanism and allowing import of pulses to meet the deficit.

The mechanism of MSP could not prove very effective as the price declared by the Government was always remained lower than the ruling prices. However for the last two/three years prices of Urad remained subdued, because of which Government’s designated agency NAFED could procure some quantities of Urad as well as Tur.

TABLE : 1

TABLE : 2

Exports :

Since deficit in pulses production have been continuing, there have been no significant scope of exports and Government has restricted exports by way of various means like higher duty and quantitative restrictions. However sporadic exports of lentils have taken place, either to meet Government’s commitment or to meet overseas demand, when this being found surplus in domestic market.

Imports:

Government has liberalized import to maintain easy availability of commodities in the domestic market. As a result of this higher volatility has come under control. India imports 20-22 Lakh Tonnes pulses every year from various countries like Canada, Australia, Brazil, Thailand and Argentina.

India imports pulses from following countries:

Green peas : Canada, USA, Hungary, New Zealand, France and Australia

Lentils (Masoor) : Turkey, Syria

Green Gram  ( Moong) : Mayanmar, China, Tanzania

Black Gram (Urad) : Mayanmar

Pigeon peas (Tur) : Mayanmar

Chick Peas (Kabuli) : Turkey, Seria, Canada, Australia, Mexico

Chick Peas (Desi Gram) : Australia, Canada

Kidney Beans : China, Mayanmar

Storage / Shelf life :

The shelf life of pulses is small due to higher content of proteins and other carbohydrates so it is highly susceptible to pest and insects attack. It requires proper storage conditions where aeration and periodical pest treatment can help in shelf life, but loss of weight due to driage in longer storage is crucial factor of the pulse’s economics.

Marketing Channel in Pulses :

Necessity of Futures Trading in Pulses :

India is the most important pulse consumer and producer in the world. Many of the country's one billion inhabitants are vegetarians and pulses are a key source of dietary protein. Despite this strategic importance to the Indian diet, surprisingly pulses production is not expanding though there is about growing export surpluses of wheat and also India becoming self sufficient in Rice. Pulse production has not kept pace with the growth of the Indian population. In order to fill the gap between domestic supply and demand of pulses dependence on regular import has become the reality. Therefore end users of pulses are now open to more price risk.

However, Indian Government makes procurements of pulses under MSP through the admired institution NAFED. But since MSP declared by government time to time generally lies much lower than the ongoing market price, so procurement are not substantial which can have a telling effect in the market. As a result of this stabilization of domestic prices of pulses does not take place in reality, which can be determined by the market forces through futures trade as well as through existing channel of the market.

Since NMCE has already taken a lead in two staple grains like wheat & Rice, futures trading in pulses on this exchange may be advantageous to the trade, these being available at single platform/screen. Ultimately its result will percolate among all sector of the society.

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