The Hindu Business Line : Pulses output seen lower

ALTHOUGH India is the largest producer, importer and consumer of pulses, it is disturbing that the per capita availability of this important and cheap source of vegetable protein has declined from over 70 grams per day in the 1960s to just 35 g/day now, the Agriculture Secretary, Ms Radha Singh, said.

Addressing the National Conference on Pulses 2004, organised by Agriwatch, a well-known agribusiness portal, here on Sunday, Ms Singh exhorted the participants in pulses business - processors, importers, traders and service providers - to get associated with the research and development initiatives of the Technology Mission on Oilseeds, Pulses and Maize.

"We will provide not only institutional support, but also financial support to private sector players who get involved in extension mechanism," she said. Large funds are said to be available with the Government for R&D activities under various mini-missions.

Noting that an end-to-end approach was necessary to address the maladies of the pulses sector, Ms Singh asked the pulses processors and traders to establish both forward and backward linkages, and also to begin to voice concerns like players in horticulture were doing.

Compared with last year, the area planted to pulses is lower by 14 lakh hectares in the kharif 2004 season and as a result, production would be lower, she cautioned, adding, "It is too early put a number, but decline is for sure."

The one-day seminar covered presentations on global markets, futures trading, advances in processing technology and regulatory issues that concern the domestic pulses trade. Mr Sunil Khairnar of Agriwatch told Business Line that it was the first-ever national meet focusing exclusively on pulses.