Growth and Instability in Pulses : A Spatiotemporal Analysis in Eastern India

Abstract

Pulses are not only vital ingredient of human diet but they are equally important to the health of humans and agricultural soils as well. The study revealed that the share of area and production of pulses in total food grains production has gone up. The area under total pulses in TE-2003 was worked out to be 7.52% of the total area under food grains in the region, which became almost, double, i.e. 14.48% in TE-2016.Production of pulses went up from 2.99% in TE-2003 to 6.22% in TE- 2016 and productivity of pulses has also improved (635.01 Kg/ha to 910.68 Kg/ha) during study period. The Compound growth rates of area and production were found positive in all the states. Though there is a wide gap between consumption and production, on account of low productivity of pulses, they are not able to compete with profitability of cereal crops, thus resulting in decreased area.