Lentil in India: An Overview

Traditionally pulses have been considered important elements of cropping systems in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. They were popular because of their importance as a source of protein and ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N) and thus improve soil fertility. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, a large area under pulses in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) was substituted by high- yielding varieties of rice (Oryza sativa) and wheat (Tritium aestivum). Lentil production in India has always been important as it is the one of the most important rabi crops in the country. In fact, India was the largest producer of the Lentil crop in the world until recently Canada took over the lead leaving India at the second place. The new technology of rice and wheat substantially changed the agricultural scenario and largely contributed to increase in agricultural production in the IGP. Indian subcontinent has a reputation of being an important player in the world’s pulse scenario. The present article tries to analysis the current scenario of lentil, its uses, and constraints to increasing production of lentil in India