Organization of ‘World Pulses Day’ at Gudur, an adopted village of College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, on 10-02-2022

An awareness programme on “World Pulses Day” was organized at Guduru, an adopted village of College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar on 10-02-2022 by Dr. S. Upendhar, Associate Professor (Ento.) and Dr. A.V. Ramanjaneyulu, Associate Professor (Agro.). Mr. Uppala Dayanand, Vice Sarpanch and 30 farmers from Guduru village participated in this programme. At the outset, Dr. S. Upendhar has welcomed all the farmers and explained them about World Pulses Day. Later, Dr. A.V. Ramanjaneyulu informed the house that FAO of UNO gave a clarion call to celebrate 10th February every year as World Pulses Day in order to heighten public awareness of the nutritional benefits of eating pulses in view of their contribution to sustainable food systems and a Zero Hunger world. Further, the organization designated 2022 with a slogan “Pulses to empower youth in achieving sustainable agri food systems” as they help in creating livelihood opportunities and equity. Further, there is a dire need to promote not only their cultivation but also consumption among people as the per capita availability of pulses in India is only 48 g/day/head against requirement of 80 g/day/head thus address the issue of protein malnutrition. He discussed about scope, opportunities and need for enhancing area and production of redgram, greengram, blackgram, soybean and chickpea in Telangana state in general and Guduru village in particular. In response to farmers query, he has given information on seed availability of pulses in different research stations under PJTSAU. At the end, Dr. S. Upendhar discussed about integrated and low cost methods of controlling pests (sucking pests, Maruca, Spodoptera, Heliothis etc.,) and diseases (leaf spots and YMV) in Pulses.