World Pulses Day - Nutritious Seeds for Sustainable Future on 10-02-2021 at KVK, Wyra

World Pulses day is celebrated annually on 10th February every year and the theme for 2021 is “Nutritious seeds for sustainable future”. Pulses were part of human and animal food for times immemorial but indices like malnutrition, hunger, poverty and shortage of foods have increased world’s concern to meet the new targets of feeding the burgeoning population through a healthy, hygienic and sufficient diet. In this context, pulses are both economical and as nutritional. These pulses provide protein, dietary fibre as well as a significant amount of iron, zinc, folate and magnesium there by enhancing quality of diet. In addition, the phytochemicals like saponins and tannins in pulses possess antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic effects. Pulses are legumes or small plants with edible seeds. The term “pulses” differentiates from “crops” because pulses are harvested when the seeds become dry whereas crops are harvested with their plants are still green. Pulses include beans, dry peas and lentils whereas dals used in the Indian subcontinent are dried, split pulses requiring no pre-soaking. India is the largest producer of pulses in the world. These dals are the most common and versatile food that one can find in an Indian kitchen. They are used on a regular basis to make curry in Indian staple diet and form the main ingredient in several authentic recipes. These dals are flavourful, nutritious and super healthy. KVK, Wyra celebrated World Pulses Day at Basavapuram village, Chintakani Mandal, Khamam with 57 farmers, farm women plus 20 local representatives, DOA officials and KVK scientists. Mrs. M. Vijayanirmala, DAO, Khammam, Mr. K. Venkateswara Rao, ADA, Chintakani mandal, Dr. J. Hemantha Kumar, Programme Coordinator, scientists Mrs. P. S. M. Phanisri, Dr. Jessie Suneetha W, Dr. K. Ravi Kumar and Dr. V. Chaitanya attended the meeting. The common problems in varieties available for cultivation of pulses, pests and disease management, nutritional importance and preparation of pulse-based recipes were discussed at length by Programme Coordinator and scientists of KVK, Wyra. The commonly used pulses were displayed for creating awareness on low-cost pulses available for the benefit of farm women as most of them know about like red gram dal, moong dal, Bengal gram dal and urad dal. As part of the program, the scientists and agriculture department officials of Khammam visited local fields where innovative farmers are growing black gram using drip with technical inputs from KVK scientists.