Regional Consultation on Enhancing the Productivity and Profitability of Pulses for Addressing Food and Nutrition Security

Regional Consultation on Pulses and the Zero Hunger Challenge is being held in Chennai, India at the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in collaboration with major international agricultural research organizations and development partners and sponsors to commemorate the International year of Pulses 2016. The International Pulses Dialogue will provide a platform for various stakeholders, including Scientists, Nutritionists, and Practitioners, Policy- makers, Extension workers, Private companies, Donors and Farming community leaders. About 150 participants are expected to attend. The expected outcomes are a) role of pulses in achieving the Zero Hunger Challenge of the UN Secretary General, with particular reference to protein hunger highlighted, b)strategies for bridging the demand – supply gap by addressing the production gap and achieving self-reliance in pulses using the Make in India principle developed.  At the moment the gap is about 10 million tonnes between demand and supply and additional quantity should be reached by 2020 c) Ways and means for introducing pulses in the Farming System for Nutrition programme and addressing protein hunger through greater consumption of pulses with active participation of local communities and panchayats discussed, d) Opportunities for the establishment of Pulses Bio Parks for value addition, biomass utilisation and creating additional jobs and income generation for small farm holders identified  and e) Strategies, ways and means, to achieve pulse revolution explored.