Global demand and consumption of pulses expected to continue to rise

10-Jul-2024 12:53 PM

Rome. A joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), an agency under the United Nations,

and another organization, OECD, says that the global demand and consumption of pulses will continue to rise further as there are indications of an increase in the importance and use of peas, beans, lentils and gram in people's diets in many parts of the world.

The report predicts an increase of 8.6 kg in the global average annual per capita food consumption by 2023. OECD and FAO have estimated an increase in per capita food consumption in all parts of the world during the coming decade and said that the highest increase may take place in Europe. There, the consumption of pulses may increase by an average of 3 percent per year.

Similarly, an increase of 25 million tonnes has been estimated in global supply. Asia and especially India, which is the world's largest producer,

will contribute about 40 percent to this increase. India produces the highest amount of gram, pigeon pea, black gram and green gram in the world,

while lentils and peas are also produced on a large scale. But due to high domestic demand and consumption, there is a need for heavy import of pulses from abroad.

The central government has set an ambitious target of making the country self-sufficient in pulses by the year 2027 and if this is achieved,

it will be a great achievement. Pulses are rich in protein. Its consumption is increasing in the developed countries of the world and its use is expected to increase continuously in the coming years.