Enhancing pulses production in India through improving seed and variety replacement rates

Abstract

India is the largest producer, consumer and importer of
pulses in the world. Pulses are important for the nutritional
security of the cereal based vegetarian diet of large
population of India. Due to ever increasing population,
rising income of people and pulses being the major source
of protein in Indian diet, the demand for pulses continues
to grow at 2.8% per annum. It is estimated that 27.5 million
tonnes of pulses would be required by 2025. Since more
than 80% of the area under pulses is under stressed rainfed
environment, the quality seed of improved varieties has
emerged as the most vital input for enhancing pulses
production in India. For ensuring availability of quality seed
it was estimated that 39.38 lakh q and 46.87 lakh q quality
seed of improved varieties would be required in 2020 and
2025, respectively, at increased seed replacement rate (SRR).
The SRR of all the pulses under study showed an increasing
trend during the last decade. This could be further
increased with vibrant formal and informal seed system
involving public and private seed industries and promotion
of participatory seed production programmes. Since pulses
are grown in diverse agro-climatic situations under severe
biotic and abiotic stresses, the varietal diversity in seed
chain also assumes greater importance. Seed chain is
currently being maintained with 236 improved varieties of
six major pulses. However, only 44 of them occupied
prominence in seed chain and could contribute significantly
to increased pulse production in recent times. There is
further need to bring sufficient number of high yielding
and disease resistant varieties in seed chain which should
adequately represent all pulse growing areas in the country.
The present paper discusses the options of yield
enhancement in pulses through increased availability of
quality seed and strategy for enhancing variety
replacement, rate (VRR) and seed replacement rate (SRR)
of major pulses, viz., chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.),
pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.), mungbean (Vigna radiata L.
Wilczek), urdbean (Vigna mungo L. Hepper), lentil (Lens
culinaris L.) and fieldpea (Pisum sativum L.)