Status and Future Prospects of Pulses in Nepal

Introduction 

Agriculture is the main source of income and livelihood of 66% of rural population in Nepal (MOAC  2009),  with  about  80%  of  population  depend  on subsistence  farming,  and have major  concerns  on  household  food  security  and  poor  nutrition  (FAO  2009).  FAO food deprivation data 2005-07 for Nepal showed that 4.5 million people live under the condition of undernourishment (FAO STAT 2011). Cereal crops are the staple food and contribute major share  in  area  and  production.  Growing  cereal  crops  year  after  year  or  intensive cereal production  (short  duration  paddy,  spring  maize)  systems  have  led  to  the degradation  soil  fertility,  soil  health,  pest  disease  dynamics  and  soil  erosion.  Pulses (grain  legumes)  are  important in terms of nutrition and subsistence farming.  It plays role in enhancing the soil  fertility  by  symbiotic  nitrogen  fixation.  Pulses  supply  the  major  part of  the  dietary  protein  (20-25% protein by weight, which is 2-3 times that  of wheat and rice) for majority of poor  who cannot afford expensive animal protein and vegetarians. Crop residues and by-products are valuable as fodder, feed and  firewood.  In 2009,pulses (excluding soybean)  export and import were of US$ 75,459,000 and US$ 29,184,000, respectively (FAO 2011). 

Area, Production and Productivity 

In world, pulses or grain legumes (solely harvested for dry grains) are grown in 69.29 million ha  with  production  of  64.0  million  ton  and  productivity  of  924  kg/ha  (FAO 2010) during 2009. India is the largest grower (30% share in area), producer (23% share in production) and consumer. Nepal contributes about 0.4% of world pulse area and production. Diverse climate and environmental conditions of Nepal offer opportunities for growing many species of food legumes. Grain legumes research received relatively little attention in Nepal as the primary need  is  on  assuring  food  supply  for  the  increasing  population.  In  Nepal, pulses  (includes soybean) occupies 10% of total cultivated land, ranking fourth in area after rice, wheat and maize. Grain legumes are grown in 319,472 ha with production and productivity of 262,357 and  821  kg/ha,  respectively  (MoAC  2010).  Majority  of  pulses area  and  production  are confined to terai and inner terai, and winter legumes contribute the major share in area and production (Figure 1). Winter grain legumes crops such as lentil, chickpea, grass pea, field pea and faba bean are grown entirely dependent on residual soil moisture after the harvest of rice (post rice) or seed broadcasted on standing rice about 7-15 days prior to rice harvest (relay cropping).  While  warm  season  grain  legumes  are  grown during  summer  month  (monsoon rain) in mono, mixed with maize/ finger millet or on paddy bund.

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