India is the largest producer as well as the consumer of pulses. So far they have been a foremost source of protein for people, as meat is too pricey for most humankind. Pulses include grams (chana), arhar or moong, black gram (wad), lentil (masur) and peas (matar). They are grown all over the country, excluding areas with profuse rainfall. These are again predominately rain-fed crops. Being leguminous, these plants help in re-establishing this facility of the soil and are, hence grown in alternation with other crops. In 1950-51 land under pulses was close to 19 million hectares. It has risen to 23 million hectares, the highest in the world. Production has increased to 14.4 million tonnes, with a borderline increase in yield from 4.4 quintals to 6.2 quintals per hectares by 1996-97.

One thing is apparent from the facts mentioned above that the forecast of bringing more pulses within the reach of common man is dim. Limitations of the so-called Green Revolution are evident. For heavy producing varieties, guaranteed irrigation and superior input of chemical fertilizers are the fundamentals. Similarly the support prices should also be evenly captivating. Even so, the only optimistic change is the introduction of a short duration third crop of moong and urd, which can be grown as post-rabi crop. Situation can be bettered if new varieties of seeds can be developed, increasing their yield.