India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world. By 2010, demand for pulses is expected to touch 23 million tonnes, while production at present is at about 14 million tons. According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, an estimated 2.5 million hectare additional area can be brought under different pulses through cropping system manipulations, crop diversification and multiple-cropping systems. In addition, there is also scope for introduction of pulses in new niches, such as wastelands, reclaimed soils and rice-fallow land.

Various varieties of pulses grown in India are:

• Masoor Dal - (Red Lentil)
  
• Masoor Chilka
  
• Masoor Whole Washed
  
• Black Masoor Whole
  
• Chana Dal - (Gram Lentil)
  
• Tuar Dal - (Pigeon Peas)
  
• Moong Dal Washed (Green Beans)
  
• Moong Chilka
  
• Moong Whole
  
• Urad Dal Washed
  
• Urad Chilka
  
• Urad Whole Black
  
• Black Eye Beans (Lobiya)
  
• Rajma (Red Kidney Beans)
  
• Chick Peas (Kabuli Chana)
  
• Black Chana and many more ...

Pulses, have the capacity of meeting the daily protein requirements and bring sustainability to cereal cropping by adding nitrogen to the soil. Scientists in India are looking at ways to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses. They aim at a minimum growth of 4.5 per cent in production, with productivity levels up from 660 kilograms a hectare to 800 kilograms a hectare by end of this year.

Most of the pulses are grown on non-irrigated land in India with growers responding to winter rainfall conditions by reducing seeded area for the rabi season. Few regions with high productivity are Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal delta region, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, coastal and eastern Karnataka and parts of Maharashtra.