Question : which country is largest producer of pulses ?
a) India
b) Japan
c) Australia
d) USA
Ans :a
Related Facts :
- World Pulses Day is celebrated on February 10 every year and recognised Pulses as a global food.
- Pulses, also known as legumes, are the edible seeds of leguminous plants cultivated for food. Dried beans, lentils, and peas are the most commonly known and consumed types of pulses.
- Also excluded are those crops used mainly for oil extraction (e.g. soybean and groundnuts) and leguminous crops that are used exclusively for sowing purposes (e.g. seeds of clover and alfalfa).
- Pulses do not include crops that are harvested green (e.g. green peas, green beans)—these are classified as vegetable crops.
- The UN General Assembly in 2019 decided to dedicate a day to Pulses to increase awareness and access to pulses globally known as World Pulses Day
- Important facts :
- Pulses are low in fat and rich in soluble fiber, which can lower cholesterol and help in the control of blood sugar.
- Because of these qualities they are recommended by health organizations for the management of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart conditions.
- Pulses have also been shown to help combat obesity.
- The nitrogen-fixing properties of pulses improve soil fertility, which increases and extends the productivity of the farmland
- By using pulses for intercropping and cover crops, farmers can also promote farm biodiversity and soil biodiversity, while keeping harmful pests and diseases at bay.
- pulses can contribute to climate change mitigation by reducing dependence on the synthetic fertilizers used to introduce nitrogen artificially into the soil.
- Greenhouse gases are released during the manufacturing and application of these fertilizers, and their overuse can be detrimental to the environment.
By Pawan Mishra