PUNJAB has initiated a plan to promote pulses, also described as the ‘common man’s meat’ and an important source of protein for the poor.

The underlying purpose of the plan is to reduce the dependence on imports, which has become a permanent feature, by providing incentives to growers for raising production and by discouraging them from shifting to other crops.

In fact, it was due to farmers’ frequent shifting to other crops such as wheat, rice and cotton that a USDA report last year expected no significant breakthrough in domestic production of pulses in the near term. Besides, production keeps fluctuating, causing sudden drops and rises in its volume, area under cultivation and imports as well.

Normally, a ‘grain drill’ or ‘seed drill’ is a sowing device that precisely positions seeds in the soil and then covers them. Farmers having 5-25 acres of land are eligible for the provision of drills for the sowing of pulses in a row

Under the programme, expected to cost Rs148.79m, the provincial government will distribute ‘pulses drills’ among growers on subsidised rates during 2015-16, and one tehsil will be selected from each district for the purpose.

Normally, a ‘grain drill’ or ‘seed drill’ is a sowing device that precisely positions seeds in the soil and then covers them. It was originally invented in Mesopotamia by 2000BC and consisted of a wooden plough equipped with a seed hopper and a tube that conveyed the seed to the furrow. The use of a seed drill, it is believed, can greatly improve a crop’s yield.

Farmers having 5-25 acres of land are eligible for the provision of drills for the sowing of pulses in a row. While the local production of lentil and maash remains inadequate to satisfy consumers’ appetite, the production of moong is also declining due to its replacement by the cotton crop in its core area.

The Punjab government will, under the new plan, conduct training programmes for farmers in modern production technology, provide certified seeds at subsidised rates and hold demonstrations of the use of latest techniques for sowing pulses at farmers’ fields. Besides, measures will be taken to promote pulses, along with other crops, in irrigated areas to attain the project’s objectives.

Major pulses grown in Pakistan include desi chickpeas (gram), lentils (masur), moong beans and black matpe (maash beans), kabuli chickpeas and kidney beans etc. The Punjab region accounts for about 84pc of the country’s pulse production, followed by Sindh with 8pc, Balochistan 5pc, and KP 3pc. Consumption of pulses is relatively high during the summer, Ramazan, Eid, Moharram and other religious events. The domestic consumption of gram is about 0.6m tons annually, with slight variations.

During 2013-14, the output of gram — the largest rabi pulses crop, with an estimated consumption of 200,000 tonnes — witnessed a major drop of 36.8pc to 475,000 tonnes from the previous year’s 751,000 tonnes. The reason cited was unfavourable weather conditions.

The production of moong increased by 3.3pc, but that of maash and masoor (lentil) decreased by 6.4pc and 5.1pc respectively. The drop in production came about due to a decrease in the area brought under cultivation.

During 2012-13, the production and import scenario was highly encouraging. The production of gram stood at 673,000 tonnes, against 284,000 tonnes in the previous year, showing an increase of 137pc due to an increase in the area under cultivation and favourable weather conditions.

As a result, total imports in 2012-13 dropped to 473,049 tonnes ($327m), as compared to 672,495m ($434m) in 2011-2012. Official figures show the import of pulses had risen in 2011-2012 due to low production of gram in that period. However, the devaluation of the rupee against the dollar, especially from July 2013, also discouraged traders, resulting in lesser imports.

But these are passing gains when viewed in the long-term perspective. Although Pakistan is a major producer of pulses, the problem is that its demand has been outstripping domestic supply, making it a regular importer. Demand is calculated to be around 1.5m tonnes, while production has never crossed 1m tonnes and remains between 500,000-700,000 tonnes.

The Federal Committee on Agriculture, in a recent meeting, had set the 2014-2015 production target at 720,000 tonnes for black gram and chickpeas. It is an ambitious target.

Pakistan depends on Australia, Burma, Tanzania and Ethiopia for import of pulses. The size of imports is determined by the crop yield in the country, as good production in a certain year helps bring down the volume of imports. The fact remains that the output of pulses has remained stagnant for several years in a row.

Since most pulses are grown in Barani areas where agriculture depends on rainwater, farmers keep reducing the area under cultivation to make way for other major crops which are more profitable, and there is a better procurement system for disposal of the produce.

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, February 23rd, 2015

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