Pulse rate sinks in Bihar farms

PATNA: Pulse production in Bihar has declined, according to a study conducted by the State Farmers Commission (SFC). Despite huge potential, pulse production has suffered because of diversion of the cultivated area to other crops. Farmers also prefer pulse cultivation mainly on marginal and unirrigated land, the study said.

It notes that Bihar’s pulse production has gone down over the years from 6.2 lakh tonne to 4.8 lakh tonne due to 45% reduction in cultivated area. “During the past 25 years, the area under pulses shrunk from 11.6 hectares to 6.6 lakh hectares,” the report said.

Against the declining level of production, the state has, however, registered an increase of 2 quintals per hectare in the yield level of pulses between 1980-81 and 2005-06. “The stark truth is that Bihar boasts of an average productivity which is even higher than the national average,” chairman, Farmers Commission, Ramadhar, told ET. “But its overall production has come down,” he said.

The “tal” area from Fatuah to Lakhisarai in central Bihar accounts for nearly 50% of pulse production. The area covers a length of 150 km with a width ranging between 3 km and 25 km which is converted into a big water mass during the rainy season.

“But it transforms into a very fertile land mass when the water finds an escape route into river Ganga. The farmers then grow pulses like lentil, chickpea and lathyrus in the clay soil ideal for such leguminous crops. Pigeon pea, another important pulse, is mostly grown on the unirrigated uplands of north Bihar,” Mr Ramadhar said.

He, however, noted with concern that the cropped area of pigeon pea declined over the years by 35% and of chickpea and lathyrus also showing coverage reduction of 60% each. Ironically, in pigeon pea productivity, Bihar ranked number one in the country. “Lentil was the only pulse whose cropped area increased by 20,000 hectares,” the chairman said.

On farmers diverting to other crops, the chairman said as soon as irrigation facility is available to them, the farmer finds convenient to switch to other crops although the “National Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices has concluded that the net income from cultivation of pulses would be in the range of Rs 4,500-5,000 hectare against a negative return from wheat cultivation. Besides, the commission says, development and availability of pest resistant high yielding variety of pulse seeds will help augment pulse production in the state”.