Growth, instability and decomposition analysis of lentil production in India

Abstract

Pulses are playing a major role in food basket of majority of Indian population, they are not only source of cheap proteins but also balanced diets and contributes to soil health. Lentil is one of the valuable pulses is major source of protein, high ber content and provide vitamins and minerals. In India, it is mostly consumed as 'Dhal' and also used as 'Namkeen'. Lentil production in the country has gone up from 0.37 to 1.62 million tons between 1970-71 and 2017-18, registering a modest growth. During the period, the area has also gone up from 0.75 to 1.55 million ha, the yield has increased more than double from 497to 1047 kg/ha. The present study is an attempt to examine the trends growth pattern, instability and decomposition analysis in lentil productionthrough time series data for the period of 47 years (i.e. 1970-71 to 2017-18) which is divided into decade wise. The compound growth rates of area, production and yield of lentil was found positive for almost each decades as well as overall period during 1970-71 and 2017-18. The area,production and yield instability were of low order. Decomposition analysis reveals that overall the change in production is due to all the three component yield, area and interaction of yield and area, however in the recent years since 2000s contribution of yield is more and area contribution is negligible.