Growth pattern in area, production and productivity of major pulses in across the region and Maharashtra
Abstract
The present study analyses the region-wise growth patterns of area, production, and productivity of major pulse crops-Chickpea, Pigeon Pea, Green Gram and Black Gram-in Maharashtra over the period from 1991-92 to 2020-21. The analysis focuses on four major agro-climatic regions: Konkan, Western Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha. Compound growth rates were calculated for three sub-periods: Period I (1991-92 to 2000-01), Period II (2001-02 to 2010-11) and Period III (2011-12 to 2020-21), along with the overall study period (1991-92 to 2020-21). The study is based on secondary data obtained from the Socio-Economic Review, District Statistical Abstracts and official reports published by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics and the Department of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra. The findings revealed significant inter-regional disparities. Chickpea showed positive growth trends in area, production and productivity across all regions except Konkan, where both area and production declined, although productivity slightly improved at overall. Vidarbha and Marathwada consistently recorded better performance due to improvements in technology and expansion of cultivated area. For Pigeon Pea, Marathwada demonstrated sustained growth across all parameters, while Konkan experienced consistent decline, indicating stagnation. Green Gram exhibited a general decline in both area and production, particularly in Vidarbha and Marathwada, with only marginal gains in productivity. Black Gram presented mixed results, showing early gains in Konkan during Period I, followed by a general downward trend in area, production and productivity in later years across most regions. Overall, the study highlights uneven regional growth patterns and emphasizes the need for region-specific interventions. Productivity improvements were a key factor driving output growth in Marathwada and Vidarbha. Conversely, the persistent stagnation in Konkan calls for focused investment in infrastructure, technology dissemination and agricultural extension services to boost pulse crop performance.
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Introduction
Pulses play a critical role in Indian agriculture, serving as a major source of plant-based protein and contributing significantly to soil health through nitrogen fixation. Maharashtra is one of the leading pulse-producing states in the country, cultivating a diverse range of pulses including Chickpea, Pigeon Pea (Tur), Green Gram (Moong), and Black Gram (Urad). (ICAR-IIPR, 2022). The state's agro-climatic diversity allows for pulse cultivation across different regions, namely Konkan, Western Maharashtra, Marathwada, and Vidarbha. According to the latest available data (2022-23 and 2023-24), Chickpea continues to be the dominant pulse crop in Vidarbha and Marathwada, while Pigeon Pea shows substantial cultivation in Marathwada and Western Maharashtra. Green Gram and Black Gram are mostly grown in the kharif season, with major concentrations in Marathwada and Vidarbha, although their area and productivity have shown fluctuating trends in recent years. Despite their importance, the growth performance of pulses in Maharashtra has been regionally uneven. In Vidarbha and Marathwada, Chickpea and Pigeon Pea have experienced considerable growth in both area and productivity, attributed to favorable climatic conditions, technological adoption and government support. On the other hand, regions like Konkan have shown consistent stagnation or decline in area and production of most pulses due to agro-climatic constraints, lower market accessibility and limited technological penetration.
Green Gram and Black Gram, while important shortduration crops, have faced productivity challenges due to erratic rainfall and limited input use. (Crop Statistics Reports and Season-Wise Crop Sowing Data (2022-23 & 2023-24). This study aims to analyze these regional growth patterns over a 30-year period, offering insights into trends and informing region-specific agricultural planning and policy formulation.
Materials and Methods
The study focused on four purposively selected regions of Maharashtra: Konkan, Western Maharashtra, Marathwada, and Vidarbha. The study was conducted on major pulses crops. The four important major pulses of Maharashtra viz, chick pea, green gram, black gram and pigeon pea were selected for the study. The present study was utilized the time series data (1991-92 to 2020-2021) on area, production and productivity of major pulse for region wise was collected from various publications and websites of Directorate of Economics and Statistics Government of Maharashtra, Agricultural Statistics at a glance and Bureau of Economics and Statistics of Maharashtra state, Statistical Abstract of Maharashtra, etc.
Specification of time periods
The compound growth rates were computed based on time series data on area, production and productivity of major pulses for regions of Maharashtra as well as a whole for 30 years of study period viz., 1991-92 to 2020-21 using loglinear production function. The compound growth rates of 30 years i.e. from 1991-92 to 2020-21 was subdivided into three sub-periods viz., Period-I (1991-92-to 2000-01), Period-II (2001-02 to 2010-11), Period-III (2011-12 to 2020-21) and entire period (1991-92 to 2020-21).
Analytical techniques Compound growth rate
To understand the overall performance of major pulses over the entire period of 30 years, i.e. 1991-92 to 2020-21, it was considered as one period. Compound growth rates were estimated to study the percentage increase or decrease in the selected parameter. The following exponential growth function was used. The growth rates were tested for its significance with the help of students t test as,
with appropriate, degrees of freedom at 10 percent, 5 percent and 1 percent level of significance The simple tabular analysis was done for obtaining the results on changes in area, production and productivity of major cereals in Maharashtra.
Results and Discussion
Conclusion
The present study on the region-wise growth patterns of major pulses-Chickpea, Pigeon Pea, Green Gram and Black Gram-in Maharashtra from 1991-92 to 2020-21 reveals significant regional disparities in area, production and productivity. The findings indicate that while some regions have experienced consistent growth, others have shown stagnation or decline. Chickpea showed the most promising performance in Vidarbha and Marathwada, with significant increases in both area and productivity, especially during Period II. In contrast, the Konkan region consistently underperformed, with declining trends in area and production, despite marginal improvements in yield. Pigeon Pea exhibited strong growth in Marathwada and moderate gains in Vidarbha. Western Maharashtra maintained stable productivity despite declines in area and output, whereas Konkan showed negative growth throughout the study period, indicating persistent structural constraints. Green Gram experienced overall decline in Maharashtra, particularly in Vidarbha, due to shrinking area and production. Only Western Maharashtra showed some positive growth in the later period. Productivity gains were minimal, reflecting limited technological adoption. Black Gram presented mixed trends. Konkan recorded a sharp rise in area and production in Period I, but growth declined in later periods. Most regions, including the state overall, experienced long-term decline in all three parameters. Overall, the study highlights uneven development of pulse crops across regions. Marathwada and Vidarbha emerged as leading regions with substantial growth driven by improved technology and area expansion. Conversely, Konkan exhibited stagnation and decline, underscoring the need for targeted policy interventions. To enhance pulse production sustainably across Maharashtra, region-specific strategies are essential. These should focus on infrastructure development, technological dissemination, capacity building, and improved market access, particularly in underperforming regions like Konkan. Addressing these disparities will be key to achieving balanced and resilient pulse crop growth in the state.
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