Pulses- India Needs a “Rainbow Revolution”

The Economic Survey- 2016-17 has urged the necessity of increasing the production of pulses in India. The survey has criticized the agricultural policy in India as being cereal centric. Pulses are considered a principal source of vegetarian protein in India. Pulses contain 25% protein, which is twice the protein in wheat and thrice the amount in rice. The protein content in pulses is also easily digestible as compared to that in eggs meat and poultry. Thus, pulses are an important part of the Indian diet and hence any increase in prices will affect the consumer’s welfare. Pulses comprise about 11% of the total intake of protein in India. Following the Green Revolution in 1950s, the cultivation and production of rice and wheat increased manifold. High Yielding Varieties of seeds, ample irrigation and fertilizers added to the increasing yield. Within a few decades India became self- sufficient in rice and wheat. Yet, Pulses seemed to have escaped this phenomenon and there is an urgent need for a “rainbow revolution” to ensure the protein intake of the masses of the country. This paper seeks to examine the main reasons behind a shortage of pulses in India and thereby confirm the need for the initiatives taken by the Government.