HYDERABAD: Agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy urged scientists to come up with new varieties of pulses, as there is an urgent need to increase its cultivation in the state.
“India is largest consumer and also grower of pulses. Despite this, we are still importing pulses, incurring huge prices. Even in Telangana, there is a huge gap between production of pulses and its consumption. Scientists and researchers should come up with new varieties of pulses to increase production in the state,” said Pocharam Srinivas Reddy speaking at a national seminar on ‘Pulses 2016 - Innovative approaches for sustainability in production and promotion of utilisation’ at University College for Women in Hyderabad on Friday. The conference focused on introducing students to the importance of pulses highlighting opportunities available in production, marketing and research in pulses.
“In Telangana, just 15 to 20 pc of total cultivated area is dedicated to pulses, while there is huge consumption. There is large scope for growing pulses, marketing and producing innovative value added products from pulses and also in research,” pointed out Professor V Praveen Rao, vice chancellor, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU)
Scientists, academicians, entrepreneurs, nutritionists, officials and others took part in the seminar and discussions were held on topics like production and productivity of pulse crops in rain fed conditions, pulses in diet culture, pulses supply chain from farm to consumer, importance of pulses for soil nutrition and others.
Graduate and post graduate students from various colleges have also presented papers and posters on pulses on the occasion. The seminar will continue even on Saturday and students and research scholars interested in pulses can participate in it. Prof BT Seetha, principal UCW, Koti, and others were present.