Pulses for food and nutritional security: The technology perspective

Abstract

Pulses though extremely important from a food security
and nutrition perspective in India have lagged behind
cereals and have been moved increasingly to marginal
environments. The persistent demand supply gap in pulses
poses several challenges including technological ones that
stem from movement of pulses to difficult environments
and its place in relation to the competing crops.
Technologies in pulses have evolved in line with the needs
such as short duration to meet intercropping requirements.
Given the long history of technology development that
lags behind principal crops marked by near absence of
private sector in R&D in pulses, it may be time to rethink
and try demand pull systems of research with Advance
Marketing Commitments along the lines suggested for
vaccines.