Pulse Farming in India: A Comprehensive Guide

Pulses are also known as legumes. Some examples are lentils, chickpeas, pigeon peas, and mung beans, among others. They are one of the primary crops in India, as they are rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Outside the nutritional benefits point of view, pulses are very vital in sustainable farming practices. 

Pulse farming plays a vital role in India’s agriculture. All the pulses are familiar sources of protein, particularly to vegetarians, and are well known for their soil-enriching qualities. India is rated as the largest producer and consumer of pulses among all the countries across the globe. Let’s learn more about pulse farming in India:

Some of the important pulses cultivated in India: 

India cultivates a large number of pulses suitable for various states and conditions in the country. Some of the most common pulses include:

Chickpeas (Chana)

Chickpeas are the major rabi crop of central and northern India, where they are cultivated in large areas. They prefer cooler temperatures and are usually sown after the monsoon rains.

Pigeon Peas (Arhar or Tur)

This genus is mostly cultivated in the Deccan Plateau, where it constitutes a major Kharif crop. Pigeon peas do not require excessive water and can be grown fairly easily in areas where water is scarce.

Lentils (Masoor)

Lentils are an important crop wholly cultivated in the northern and eastern zones of the country. They are also a rabi crop that requires a cool climate.

Mung Beans (Moong)

Mung beans are very useful and can be cultivated both in the Kharif and Rabi peri

od. These are found more in the northern and western regions of India.

Black Gram (Urad)

Black gram is cultivated extensively in southern India’s black legume-growing regions and is used in a variety of Indian recipes. Although considered a kharif crop, it can also be grown in the rabi season under some conditions.

Methods of Pulse Farming

Pulse farming requires knowledge of the particular needs of each pulse to do well in a given region. Below are some common methods and practices that can enhance pulse farming

Soil Preparation

Soil pH must also be suitable; pulses to grow best in well-drained soil with good aeration. While sowing, farmers should fill the required gaps of ploughing and harrowing to provide a suitable seed bed. Farmers can mix compost or manure into the soil to enhance its structure and fertility. Farmers use John Deere tractors to prepare the soil and mix the compost thoroughly in the field. Pulses tend to take up nitrogen in the soil so that they can be grown on soils with relatively low nitrogen content.

Sowing Techniques

Sowing time is very important for pulse crops, depending on the environmental conditions. Kharif pulses are sown at the beginning of the monsoonal period, while rabi pulses should be sown after the monsoonal rains when the soil colour is blackish. Pulses are generally planted in rows and with proper spacing to get adequate space for light and air. 

Water Management

Pulses are fairly well adapted to dry conditions, although they need a reasonable moisture supply during germination and flowering. Framers should also ensure they do not overwater their plants since this leads to root rot and other diseases. During dry weather, especially in regions where rainfall is very low, pulse crops benefit from irrigation.

Weed Control

Weeds compete with pulse crops for nutrients, water, and light. Weed control is very important to get a desirable yield in a crop. In weed management, farmers have a choice between manual weeding and using chemicals, such as herbicides. Organic mulching can also help prevent the growth of weeds and also conserve soil moisture.

Harvesting

Harvesting should be done at the right time to avoid staking the yields. Moreover, pulses must be harvested when the pod is fully mature and preferably dry. Holding the pods until they are too mature can result in shattering, whereby the pods open and the seeds are shed. Once the pulses have been harvested, they should undergo some processing to ensure that they do not spoil easily. 

Farmers use Mahindra tractors to move the produce from the field to the market or storage house. Proper storage houses are important to maintain the quality of pulses for a longer period.

Challenges in Pulse Farming

Despite the many importance of pulse farming in India, farmers face several challenges:

Low Productivity

While observing annual production yields per unit area, pulse yield is much lower than that of cereals. This is due to conditions such as poor soils, lack of adequate irrigation, and pest attacks.

Price Fluctuations

This means that the price of pulses in the market can fluctuate, thus exerting income pressure on the farmers. This is mainly due to factors such as supply-demand disparities, import and export policies, and speculation, among others.

Limited Access to Technology

This is disadvantageous to most smallholder farmers, who cannot afford or do not have an option but to use conventional farming technologies.

Climate Change

Fluctuations in climatic changes make pulse farming highly risky due to unpredictable weather conditions. This climate feature is normally characterised by irregular rainfall, drought, and unstable temperatures, which are all unfavourable factors for crop production.

Conclusion

Organic farming in pulse farming is very important to ensure food security, nutritional adequacy, and sustainability in India. Better farming techniques and modern machinery can reduce the challenges that affect pulse farmers. Farmers who are looking forward to buying a versatile tractor must check the tractor prices of different models before they choose. If pulse farmers receive the right support and formulate the right strategies, pulse farming will continue to exist and benefit the farmers and customers.