With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements: 1) Black gram can be cultivated as both Kharif and rabi crops. 2) Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production. [2020]

With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements:

Black gram can be cultivated as both Kharif and rabi crops.
Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production.
In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production of rabi pulses has decreased.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 and 3 only
2 only
1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

Black gram (Vigna Mungo L.) is one of the important pulse crops, grown throughout the country.
Kharif & Rabi Seasons: During kharif, it is cultivated throughout the country. It is best suited to rice fallows during rabi in the southern and south-eastern parts of India.
It can be grown on a variety of soils ranging from sandy soils to heavy cotton soils. The ideal soil is a well-drained loam with a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. Black gram cannot be grown on alkaline and saline soils. The crop is resistant to adverse climatic conditions and improve the soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the soil. It is very rich in phosphoric acid.
Global Production: India currently represents the largest producer of black gram, accounting for more than 70% of the global production. India is followed by Myanmar and Pakistan. Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are major blackgram-growing states, area-wise.

Statement 2 is incorrect

Greengram is an important pulse crop in India. It can be cultivated on wide range of soil. Gives the best result when grown on well-drained loamy to sandy-loam soils. It is a short-duration legume crop grown mostly as a fallow crop in rotation with rice. Similar to the leguminous pulses, greengram enriches soil nitrogen content. Saline and waterlogged soils are not suitable for cultivation. The fertiliser requirement is less, and it is disease-resistant.

According to the Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES), the share of pulse production in 2018- 19 comprised Tur (15.34%), Gram (43.29%), Moong (green gram,10.04%), Urad (black gram, 13.93%), Lentil (6.67%), and Other Pulses (10%).

Table displaying production data of various pulses from 2016-17 to 2018-19 in thousand tonnes, including Tur, Gram, Moong, Urad, Lentil, and Other Pulses. Columns show yearly production quantities and percentage share in total pulse production, highlighting Gram as the largest contributor with an increasing share peaking at 44.77% in 2017-18.

Statement 3 is incorrect

According to a NITI Aayog report titled Demand and Supply Projections Towards 2033, production of kharif pulses was rising by 8.7 per cent in 1980 but fell to -6.6 per cent by 1990.
Production of rabi pulses, too, was increasing at 5.5 per cent and fell to -3.2 per cent in 1990, but it then made a recovery in the next decade and grew at 4.2 per cent after 2000 due to programmes such as the Integrated Scheme of Oilseed, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize and the National Food Security Mission.

Infographic detailing pulses, including types, growing seasons, production, import/export, nutritional benefits, reasons for rising imports, and government initiatives. Features maps of top-producing states and countries, nutritional highlights like high-quality protein and antioxidants, rising demand data, and programs like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and PM-AASHA for boosting pulse production.