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Bangladesh produces nearly 1 million tons of pulses annually, but the country's annual need is around 2.5 million tons, resulting in a significant reliance on imports. Local production has increased, but it still falls short of the demand, and the government is actively working to boost domestic production. Pulses are a critical source of protein in Bangladesh, often called the "poor man's meat," but the country faces a chronic deficit in production, meeting less than half of its demand domestically and relying heavily on imports.
Key Pulses Grown in Bangladesh:
*Commonly cultivated pulses include lentils (Masur), green gram (Mung), black gram (Mashkalai), chickpeas (Chhola), and grass peas (Kheshari).
*Lentils are a popular and widely consumed pulse in Bangladesh.
*Pulses are typically grown as a Rabi (winter) crop, primarily in the western and northern parts of the country.
Here's a concise overview of recent statistics and trends for pulse production in Bangladesh, based on available data:
Production Statistics
2020-21: Bangladesh produced approximately 425,000 metric tons (MT) of pulses, up from 397,000 MT in 2019-20, showing a modest upward trend.
2023: Production reached around 416,000 MT, with projections estimating growth to 445,000 MT by 2028, at an average annual growth rate of 1.1%. Historically, since 1966, pulse supply has grown at 1.8% per year.
2004-05 to 2013-14: The area under pulse cultivation increased from 384,000 hectares to 780,000 hectares, and production rose from 298,000 MT to 824,000 MT, indicating significant expansion over that decade.
Common Pulses: Major pulses include Masur (lentil), Mung (green gram), Mashkalai (black gram), Chhola (chickpea), Kheshari (grass pea), and Motor (pea). Lentils are the most popular, consumed in nearly all meals, while Kheshari is primarily used as fodder in northern regions.
Local Production and Demand:
*Bangladesh's annual pulse demand is estimated to be around 2.5 million tons.
*Local production is currently around 0.9 million tons, meaning the country imports the remaining portion.
*Production has increased over time, with a fourfold rise in local production over the past decade and a half.
*Despite this increase, the gap between demand and local production persists.
Key Trends and Challenges
Growth Rates: From 1975 to 2014, pulses like Mung and Masur showed positive production growth rates of 6.92% and 2.02%, respectively, driven by high-yielding varieties developed by institutions like the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA).
Land Competition: Pulse cultivation has declined due to competition with rice, wheat, maize, and vegetables. A few decades ago, pulses occupied 0.3 million hectares, but this has significantly reduced.
Deficit and Imports: Bangladesh requires 1.2-1.3 million MT of pulses annually, but domestic production meets less than half this demand. Imports, primarily dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas, fill the gap, costing 12,920 million BDT in April 2024 alone, driven by rising consumption, taka depreciation, and high global prices.
Research and Development: Since 1979, 68 high-yielding varieties have been released, with contributions from BARI, BINA, and international partners like ICRISAT and ICARDA. These varieties, especially short-duration Mung, Mashkalai, and Masur, have boosted yields (e.g., up to 2,396 kg/ha for lentils with zinc application).
Constraints: Major challenges include diseases like Botrytis gray mold (chickpeas), Stemphylium blight (lentils), and Mungbean yellow mosaic virus, alongside abiotic stresses like drought and heat, exacerbated by climate change.
Future Projections
2030 and 2050: Demand is projected to reach 1.79 million MT by 2030 and 1.95 million MT by 2050, with supply deficits of 1.236 million MT and 926,000 MT, respectively. Productivity improvements could reduce this gap.
Opportunities: Expanding cultivation of minor pulses like pigeonpea and cowpea in non-traditional areas (e.g., southern Bangladesh) and adopting climate-smart practices could enhance production.
Recommendations
Policy Support: Incentives for farmers, such as subsidies and better access to high-yielding seeds, are critical to boost production.
Research Investment: Continued focus on developing disease-resistant and climate-tolerant varieties is essential.
Crop Diversification: Integrating pulses into cropping systems (e.g., relay cropping with rice) could mitigate land competition.
For further details, check the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) or reports from BARI and BINA. If you need specific data for a particular pulse or region, let me know, and I can dig deeper
Factors Affecting Production:
Land Availability:
While pulses are resilient to unfertile land and easier to cultivate, some farmers may choose not to grow them due to low prices or other factors.
Government Initiatives:
The government is implementing various programs to increase pulse cultivation and bridge the gap between demand and production.
Cost of Imports:
The high cost of imported pulses is a significant concern for the Bangladeshi economy.
Pest and Disease Vulnerability:
Pulse crops are vulnerable to pests and diseases, requiring research and development to develop resistant varieties.
Market Challenges:
Fragmented and thin markets for pulses can also hinder production.
-SZK
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