The declaration of 2016 as the International Year of Pulses by the United Nations underscored the global recognition of the numerous advantages associated with the cultivation of pulses. Pulses, including lentils, chickpeas, and beans, offer a myriad of benefits that contribute to both agricultural sustainability and human nutrition. Firstly, pulses play a crucial role in enhancing soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and promoting sustainable farming practices. Additionally, their ability to thrive in diverse climates and marginal lands makes them resilient to environmental challenges, contributing to food security. From a nutritional standpoint, pulses are rich sources of protein, fiber, and essential nutrients, promoting human health and mitigating malnutrition. Furthermore, their low environmental footprint and water-efficient cultivation make pulses an eco-friendly option for addressing global food challenges. The International Year of Pulses served as a platform to raise awareness about these advantages, fostering a renewed emphasis on pulse cultivation for a sustainable and nourished future.
Tag: Geography.
Decoding the Question:
- In the Introduction, try to briefly write about the production of pulses and reasons for the declaration.
- In Body,
- Write various advantages of the cultivation of pulses.
- In Conclusion, try to write the significance of the declaration and the way forward.
Answer:
Pulse crops are the most important food crops after cereals. It has been an essential part of the human diet since 8000 BC. Despite the strong evidence of health and nutritional benefits of pulses, its consumption remains low in many developing and developed countries. Therefore, the United Nations declared the year 2016 as the International Year of Pulses to heighten public awareness of the nutritional benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production aimed towards food security and nutrition.
Advantages of the Cultivation of Pulses:
- Nutritional Benefits: Pulses, such as lentils, chickpeas, and beans, are rich sources of protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Including pulses in the diet can improve overall nutrition and contribute to better health outcomes.
Example: According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), pulses are an essential source of protein, particularly for vegetarian diets. They provide about 20-25% of the total protein intake in Indian households.
- Soil Health Improvement: Pulses have the unique ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into the soil through symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This enriches the soil with essential nutrients and improves its fertility.
Example: legume crops like chickpeas can fix up to 100-150 kg of nitrogen per hectare, reducing the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilisers.
- Crop Rotation: Pulse crops are commonly used in crop rotation practices. Rotating pulses with other crops helps break pest and disease cycles, reduce soil erosion, and enhance the productivity of the land.
Example: In the Bundelkhand region, rotating chickpeas with wheat and mustard has resulted in increased wheat yields by 8-10% due to improved soil health.
- Water Efficiency: Pulses are relatively water-efficient crops compared to cereals like wheat and rice. Cultivating pulses can be beneficial in water-stressed regions, contributing to sustainable water management.
Example: the water footprint of lentils is approximately 18 times lower than beef, making them an environmentally friendly option for water-stressed areas in India.
- Climate Resilience: Pulses have a high tolerance for drought conditions and can thrive in diverse agro-climatic conditions. Their cultivation contributes to climate-resilient farming practices.
Example:In India’s arid and semi-arid regions, farmers have found success with drought-tolerant pulses like pigeonpea. Pigeonpea can survive dry spells and erratic rainfall, making it suitable for climate-resilient farming.
- Income Diversification for Farmers: Cultivating pulses provides farmers with an additional income stream and reduces dependence on single-crop farming, enhancing their economic stability.
Example: According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), pulses can provide an additional source of income for smallholder farmers. In India, where small-scale farming is prevalent, cultivating pulses offers income diversification.
- Food Security: Pulses are an essential component of diets in many countries, especially in India, where they serve as a primary source of protein for a large population. Cultivating pulses supports food security and nutritional balance.
Example: According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, India produced over 23 million metric tons of pulses during the crop year 2021-2022, contributing to food security for its vast population.
Conclusion:
Therefore, pulses contribute significantly in addressing hunger, food security, malnutrition, environmental challenges and human health and also are a vital source of plant-based proteins and amino acids. In India, pulse productivity is much lower than other pulse producing countries. India needs to import pulses to the tune of 2 M tonnes every year (Rs 3000 crores) to meet its domestic requirement.
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