News Excerpt:

The Global Pulses Conference, an annual meeting of pulses producers, processors, and traders, suggested that India augment the production of pulses to meet the nutritional requirements.

More on the news:

• India is the largest producer, consumer, and importer of pulses in the world.
• Pulses are one of the important food crops globally due to their higher protein content. Pulses are 20 to 25 percent protein by weight which is double the protein content of wheat and three times that of rice.
• Pulse production has grown 60% in 10 years, from 171 lakh tonnes in 2014 to 270 lakh tonnes in 2024.
• Government procurement of pulses increased 18 times in 10 years.
• Bharat Dal now has a 25% market share of gram lentils within 4 months of its launch.
• The Government has launched the sale of chana dal under the brand name of Bharat Dal at highly subsidized rates of Rs.60 per kg.
• Bharat Dal is being distributed through retail outlets of NAFED, NCCF, Kendriya Bhandar, and Safal.
• India had become self-reliant in chickpeas (chana) and many other pulse crops, with only a slight deficiency remaining in pigeon peas (tur) and black gram. Consistent efforts are being made to attain self-sufficiency in pulses by 2027.

About the Convention:

• The Global Pulse Convention 2024, named Pulses: 2024 was organized in New Delhi from the 14th to the 17th of February. 
• The four-day conference is jointly organized by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and the Global Pulse Confederation (GPC).
• Organizers said that more than 40 countries participated in the conference this year.
• The 2023 conference was held in Sydney, Australia.