On farm processing of pulses : potential and prospects

摘要

If pulses are processed at the village level it will not only generate employment at rural area but will also lower prices and losses. Food is essential for human survival and it is produced through agriculture. Protein is one of the constituent of the food that is by the human body for the repair, maintenance and growth Pulses are the cheapest source of protein especially for vast vegetarian population of the country. The pulses together with cereals form the diet of Indians. Consequently India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world accounting for about 25 per cent (15.12 million tonnes) of global production and 27 per cent of consumption. Due to increasing population and stagnant production per consumption in India has come down from 70 grams per day in 1960 to 27 grams per day in 2001 against World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of per capita daily consumption of 80 grams. To overcome this situation, in addition to increasing the production of pulses it is important to reduce the post harvest losses that occur at various levels of its handling. An estimated 15-20 per cent losses take place at milling stage alone, apart from 10 percent losses during storage. It is therefore, important that steps are taken to reducethese losses. Moreover, farmers sell their produce at low prices to the traders as they do not have processing facilities at rural level. The transportation of raw material to mills and finished back to the consumers even in the villages adds extra coste and losses.