Profile Characteristics of the Farmers about Sustainable Practices of Redgram based Farming System

Legumes rank second in importance to cereals as human food sources because they contain protein almost comparable to what is derived from animal and fish meat. Legumes, regarded as poor man’smeat, are the cheapest sources of protein among the underprivileged that cannot afford animal and fish proteins Mula and Saxena (2010). Redgram is a nutritious food being rich in protein and well-known for its usefulness in increasing soil fertility, preventing soil erosion and in suppressing weeds in upland farms. It has a wide adaptability to different climates and soils.

Redgram (Cajanus cajan (L) mill.sp.) is commonly known as arhar, pigeonpea, tur, togari, gango pea and no eye pea. It is an important and old crop of the country. It is the second most important pulse crop only after chickpea. Redgram is an important pulse crop grown in the tropics and subtropics. It finds important place in farming systems adopted by smallholding peasants in large number of developing countries. Redgram is considered to be origin of peninsular India. It is a short annual crop in India and as a perennial in many other countries, where pods are harvested at regular interval. The crop has deep root system and hence highly drought tolerant. It is a protein rich staple food contains about 22.30 percent protein, which is almost three times that of cereals. Redgram supplies a major share of protein, requirement of vegetarian population of the country. Redgram is mainly consumed in the form of split pulse as Dal, which is an essential supplement of cereal based diet (Nene and Sheila, 1990, Tuwafe et al., 1993).

India is the largest producer, consumer and importer of redgram in the world. India occupies 79.00 percent of world redgram area and accounts for 67.00 percent of world production of redgram. In India, redgram occupies an area of 4.44 million hectares and production of about 4.28 million tonnes, having a productivity of 967 kg/ha (INDIASTAT, 2017). It is mainly grown in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. Maharashtra (1.24 million hectares) is the leading producer of redgram followed by Madhya Pradesh (0.64 million hectares). In Karnataka, redgram is largely grown in northern parts, especially in Kalaburagi district and is called as pulse bowl of Karnataka. ‘Kalaburagi Tur Dal’ received Geographical Indication (GI) Tag (No. 593) from government of India during the year 2019. The state occupies an area of about 8.85 lakh hectares with the production of 7.62 lakh tonnes, having an average productivity of 861 kg/ha (INDIASTAT, 2017). Kalaburagi has an area of about 3.28 lakh hectares with production of 3.77 lakh tonnes and a productivity of 1209 kg/ha (Anonymous, 2017).

Sustainable practice encompasses the elements of productivity, profitability, health safety and the environment. Thus, sustainable practice is the need of the hour because of the urgency to develop farming techniques, which are sustainable from environments, production and socio-economic point of view. There is now an urgent demand for creative and innovative conservation and production practices that would provide farmers with economically viable and environmentally sound alternatives in their agricultural production systems Desai and Pujari, (2007). Sustainable farming is gaining momentum in India because it is adoptable and eco-friendly. Growing awareness of consumers to use safe and healthy food and need to address less effect of chemicals in agriculture production, restoration of soil health and fertility has played a key role in the emergence of sustainable agriculture sector since last two decades. Hence, it is evident that redgram crop command greater importance for attaining abetter position in the world market, which would inturn contribute to our national income. At the same time, there is a need to concentrate on certain specific sustainable practices which are eco-friendly and cost effective. Since, the issues of higher cost of cultivation due to increased use of fertilizers and pesticides, decreasing trends of yield and other environmental issues are gaining paramount importance, greater emphasis is thus being laid on sustainable practices in the recent past. With this brief background the present study was conducted to know the profile characteristics of farmers about sustainable practices of redgram based farming system.