The Centre has launched a special programme in the current kharif season to achieve more than 19 million tonnes of pulse production in the country.

According to an official release, the programme focuses on inter-cropping of pulse crops over other crops and accelerating productivity through adoption of innovative technologies relating to plan nutrition and water use.

Three crops - pigeon pea (arhar), green gram (moong) and black gram (urad) - have been selected for the programme.

It will promote planting of pigeon pea with groundnut, soyabean or cotton. Besides this, emphasis will be on inter-cropping of moong and urad with maize, jowar or bajra.

Research institutes, fertiliser cooperatives (IFFCO and KRIBHCO) and private companies engaged in micro irrigation and production of special nutrients are being involved in the programme.

AIR correspondent reports the production of pulses during the kharif season in the past two years has been hovering around 18 million tonnes.

To meet the growing demand, stabilized and increased production of pulses is necessary, especially as the pulses crops are taken in rainfed areas with little irrigation.

Over 15 lakh hectares area have been covered under the cultivation of pulses in the country during the current sowing season so far. The target of pulses cultivation for the current season is 17.49 lakh hectares. According to data released by the Agriculture Ministry, the maximum coverage of pulses cultivation has been reported from Bihar followed by Odisha and Tamilnadu. Bihar has achieved the set target of sowing pulses in 5 lakh hectares in this season.