With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements: 1. Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crop. 2. Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production. 3. In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production on rabi pulses had decreased. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements: 1. Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crop. 2. Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production. 3. In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production on rabi pulses had decreased. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Correct Answer 1 only

The correct answer is 1 only.

Key Points

• Pulses are grown in all three seasons – Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Gram is the most dominant pulse but only with a share of around 40 percent in the total production followed by Tur/Arhar at 15 to 20 percent and Urad/Black Matpe and Moong at around 8-10 percent each. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• The production of pulses for both Rabi and Kharif seasons has increased in the last three decades. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Important Points

• India is the largest producer (25% of global production), the consumer (27% of world consumption), and the importer (14%) of pulses in the world.
• Pulses account for around 20 percent of the area under foodgrains and contribute around 7-10 percent of the total foodgrains production in the country
• Though pulses are grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons, Rabi pulses contribute more than 60 percent of the total production.
• Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka are the top five pulses producing States. The productivity of pulses is 764 kg/ha. 

Additional Information