Structural Changes in Pulse Production Scenario in Uttar Pradesh Martolia Renu1, Singh H. P.2,* 1Research Associate, National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, New Delhi, 110012, India 2Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural Economics, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India *Corresponding Author hpsgautam@gmail.com
Online published on 30 November, 2019. Abstract Uttar Pradesh (UP) has a colossal challenge to feed and provide nutritional security to 16.4 per cent of India's population from only 9 percent of India's geographical area. The agriculture sector is a major contributor to the gross state domestic product (GSDP) & covered around 70 per cent of land in 2001–02. The state is well famed for its diverse cropping pattern. In the case of pulse production, it ranked 5th, 2nd and 4th in khariff, rabi and total pulses, respectively, in 2011–13 among major pulse producing states. However, the pulse production rank of UP has been downgraded, especially in gram. Therefore, we examined the changes and sources of those changes in pulse production in UP. The growth in gram and arhar production has been severely affected by area contraction in all concerned periods. On the contrary, lentil, black gram and green gram production flourished because of favourable area and yield growth rates. Our study showed that state farmers have restructured their pulse cropping patterns over the period. Total pulse production was affected by both area and yield effect throughout the period. This study advocates tapping the yield potential and prevent area contraction by propelling pulses production-oriented programmes, and providing institutional and policy support to boost pulse production in the state. Top Keywords Area effect, Yield effect, Interaction effect, Uttar Pradesh, pulse, changes. Top |