Pulses in Punjab: growth rate and decomposition analysis

Pulses are an important commodity group of crops that provides high quality protein supplementary cereal proteins for pre-dominantly large vegetarian population of Punjab. The state is known for its contribution of wheat and paddy to the national pool but it lags behind in production of pulses. Keeping this in view present study was undertaken to explore the status of pulses in Punjab with the computation of compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and decomposition analysis. For this purpose the secondary data from year 1985–86 to 2017–18 were taken. The results showed that the CAGR of area and production of total pulses in state showed a significantly negative growth of 6.13 and 5.60 per cent per annum respectively but positive growth (0.61%) was observed in case of yield. The decomposition analysis concluded that area effect (99.48%) was major contributing factor for change in production of total pulses followed by yield effect (3.87%). But interaction effect was found negative (−3.35%). Thus there is need to break the monoculture of wheat and paddy crops and regain the area under pulses by considering their invaluable benefits by providing improved varieties of seeds, pest resistant techniques, extension support, insurance coverage and sustained remunerative market for the produce of pulse growers.