29th Annual Group Meet on Rabi Pulses in India
Pulses, the unsung heroes of the agricultural realm, embody a crucial protein source and exhibit remarkable resilience to environmental stresses like drought, heat, and cold, making them a pivotal crop in India's agricultural landscape. Pulse crops emit fewer greenhouse gases and serve as carbon sequesters, distinguishing them as a climate-friendly and strategically essential crop for the nation. ICARDA has delivered cutting-edge pulses research for the last decades and has promoted pulses as a food crop that can help to strengthen food and nutritional security in India, where the population keeps growing.
On September 2 – 4, 2024, the dedicated team of ICARDA India hosted the successful 29th Annual Group Meet on Rabi Pulses at the Food Legume Research Platform (FLRP) at Amlaha, near Bhopal. Rabi crops – chickpea, lentil, grasspea, fababean, field pea, and Rajmash – are crops that are sown in winter and harvested in spring in India. The word “rabi” was borrowed from Persian (ربيع, romanized: rabī) and means spring.
The gathering of over 200 researchers and policy makers aimed to facilitate discussions among experts in the field, fostering collaboration to enhance pulse production in India. Co-hosted by ICAR's key institute, the Indian Institute of Pulses Research under the All India Coordinated Research Project, the event featured insightful discussions on modern agricultural tools and strategies to boost pulse productivity.
The event saw esteemed speakers, including ICARDA’s Regional Coordinator for South Asia and China Regional Program, Dr. Shiv Kumar Agrawal, and ICAR’s Deputy Director General for Crop Science, Dr. Tilak Raj Sharma, emphasizing the importance of leveraging modern tools in agricultural research such as speed breeding and genome editing to address challenges in pulse improvement programs. Dr. Sharma also underscored the importance of developing region-specific product profiles for pulses in India.
The Agriculture Commissioner of the Government of India, Dr. P.K. Singh, discussed the new strategy of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare that aims to increase the pulse variety replacement rate in India. He stressed the goal of achieving self-sufficiency in pulse production by 2027 and highlighted various government policies and initiatives designed to support farmers in boosting pulse productivity.
By emphasizing the importance of revitalizing the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Rabi pulses, particularly in the areas of promotion and testing criteria for the ecological promotion of pulses, Dr. Sanjeev Gupta, Assistant Director General (Oilseeds and Pulses) of ICAR set the tone for the subsequent technical sessions whereas Dr. G.P. Dixit, Director of ICAR-IIPR, Kanpur, provided an overview of the notable research and development activities in Rabi pulses, particularly in chickpea and lentil production, Dr. Shailesh Tripathi, Project Coordinator (Rabi Pulses), presented progress and achievements of coordinated research trials, setting the stage for further review and discussions.
In his remarks, Dr. S.C. Dubey, the Vice Chancellor of Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, highlighted the significant increase in Indian pulse production but emphasized the need for sustained collaborative efforts to ensure continued success in this sector.
The meeting concluded with a collective agreement to prioritize the establishment of modern breeding facilities at ICARDA’s Food and Legume Research Platform, aimed at adding value to the national system and accelerating advancements in pulse improvement programs. Joint research proposals on pulse improvement were also explored with national partners, with an emphasis on capacity-building and genetic enhancement.