ICAR Institutes celebrate World Pulses Day - 2022

10^th February, 2022

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in the 73^rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly held on 20^th December, 2018 declared to celebrate 10^th February as the “World Pulses Day” every Year. The day recognizes the importance of Pulses (Dry Beans, Lentils, Dry Peas, Chickpeas and Lupins, etc.) as a global food.

The ICAR Institutes also organized a wide array of vivid activities - Seminars, Webinars, Talks, Discussions, Debates and Drawing & Essay Writing Competitions, etc., to mark the celebrations of the day on this Year’s Theme - “Pulses to empower Youths in achieving Sustainable Agri-Food Systems”.

 

ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore, Kolkata

The Chief Guest, Dr. Kalyan Jana, Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, West Bengal urged for including the consumption of Pulses  in everyday diet for sustenance. He also stressed that the inclusion of Pulses into the cropping system would not only improve the soil quality, but also reduce the nitrogen requirement for the next crop.

Dr. Gouranga Kar, Director, ICAR-CRIJAF, Barrackpore highlighted the need for increased access to Pulses Crops among the underprivileged sections of the global population. Dr. Kar also regarded the Pulses as crucial in terms of food security, nutritional value and environmental benefits.

A total of 57 participants including 15 farmers participated in the event.

 

ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

The Institute organized the Workshop on “Pulses for Soil Health and Nutritional Security” to mark the celebrations.

The Chief Guest, Dr. Ashok K. Patra, Director, ICAR-IISS, Bhopal highlighted the significance of Pulses for soil & human health along with the overall sustainability of the ecosystem. Dr. Patra regarded the Pulses as the key component to enhance crop productivity for doubling the farmers’ income.

About 100 Staff Members, 50 Students and 200 Farmers participated in the event.

 

ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha

Smt. Kalpana Mohapatra, Wife of Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Smt. Mohapatra regarded the Pulses as the great source of low-fat protein. She stated that the Pulses are cheap and better sources of fibre, vitamins and minerals like Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Folate (Vitamin - B9) and Magnesium (Mg). The various ways of consuming Pulses in the forms of Dal, Khichdi, Chapatti, Mixtures, Snacks, Soups, Cakes and Sweets, etc., were also underlined Smt. Mohapatra.

 

Earlier, welcoming the dignitaries, Dr. Padmini Swain, Director, ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack outlined the importance of Pulses in climate change mitigation by reducing the dependence on chemical fertilizers through nitrogen fixation in the soil.

 

ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad

The Institute celebrated the day at Aampally and Gurudhotla Villages of Vikarabad District under the Farmers First Programme.

As a part of promoting the Pulses and Oilseeds as the components of diversification, 20 farmers were selected for growing Summer Black Gram after Paddy with minimum inputs. The Blackgram was sown after seed treatment  with microbial inoculants, viz., Rhizobium, PSB and Trichoderma during this Year.

For the first time, the farmers of the Village took-up the cultivation of Blackgram during the Summer Season for utilizing the residual soil moisture and fertilizer in paddy fallows.

 

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Washim, Maharashtra

The KVK organized a “Kisan Goshthi” on the advances in Pulses production and value-chain development at the Village Dapuri Kalwe of Malegaon Block.

The event was jointly organized by the State Department of Agriculture and KVK, Washim.

The Chief Guest, Dr. R.L. Kale, Head, KVK, Washim highlighted the role and importance of Pulses in the District economy. He also urged the rural youths to make efforts for the value-chain development for Pulses.

Shri Nivruti Shinde, Up-Sarpanch, Village Dapuri Kalwe of Malegaon Block marked the presence as the Guest of Honor during the occasion.

 

ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu & KVK, Karur, Tamil Nadu

The ICAR-NRC for Banana, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu and ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Karur, Tamil Nadu jointly organized the “Farmers Meet” to celebrate the day.

 

Dr. S. Uma, Director, ICAR-NRC for Banana, Tiruchirappalli delivered a Talk on the “Importance of Pulses & Banana and their roles in human health & development”.

Dr. K. Thiravium, Head, KVK, Karur briefed about the coordination of the Research Centre, KVK and Agriculture Department in the promotion of Pulses for the nutritional & health security in the country.

 

ICAR-Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

Dr. J.S. Mishra, Director, ICAR-DWR, Jabalpur highlighted the importance of Pulses in the sustainable agri-food systems.

 

Around 100 participants participated in the event.

 

ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetables Research, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

The Chief Guest, Dr. M.N. Singh, Professor, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh stressed that the cultivation of Pulses not only benefits human health, but also helps in improving the soil’s health too. He also urged for enhancing the Pulses’ production.

Dr. T.K. Behera, Director, ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi outlined the health benefits of including the consumption of Pulses in our daily diets.

Around 100 participants participated in the event.

(Source: Respective ICAR Institutes)