World Pulses Day 2025, Theme, Significance, Cultivation

World Pulses Day 2025 is celebrated every year on 10th February. The day is celebrated as a day of recognition of pulses and their role in human nutrition, environmental well-being and sustainable agriculture. The day was declared as world pulses day under the United Nations General Assembly in 2016. The year was also marked as the International Year of Pulses. Due to the huge success of this celebration, the potential of the crops were recognised and added as a goal to be achieved under the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

World Pulses Day 2025 Theme 

The theme for World Pulses Day 2025 is yet to be announced. The day focuses on raising awareness about the importance of pulses and their nutritional benefits. For farmers, pulses serve a dual purpose—they can be consumed to ensure household food security or sold to create economic stability. Additionally, the nitrogen-fixing properties of pulses enhance soil fertility, boosting the productivity and longevity of farmland. By incorporating pulses into intercropping and cover cropping practices, farmers can promote biodiversity in both farms and soils

World Pulses Day 2025 Significance 

• Highlighting the Importance of Pulses: World Pulses Day serves as a platform to raise awareness about the nutritional value of pulse crops and their critical role in ensuring food security and offering environmental benefits.
• Encouraging Pulses Cultivation: The day emphasizes promoting the cultivation of pulses for their contributions to improving human health and enhancing soil fertility.

All About Pulses 

Pulses are a sub-group of legume crops and include chickpeas, peas, beans and lentils. Pulses have multiple uses including livestock forage, human consumption and soi-enhancing green manure. 

Peas, lentils and dried beans are some of the most consumed pulses. 

Pulse Cultivation in India

• India produces the largest pulses(25%), followed by Canada(9%), China(6%) and European Union(5%). 
• India has the largest production(25%), consumption (27%) and importer(14%) of pulses in the world. 
• 75% of pulses are produced in the states of Madhya Pradesh(29.67%), Maharashtra(14.66%) and Rajasthan(13.75%).
• The maximum pulses produced in India are Chickpeas(48%), Pigeon Pea(14%) Black Gram (12%) and Green Gram (8%) and lentil(7%).

Significance of Pulses

• Health Benefits: Pulses are rich in essential vitamins and minerals, making them a vital part of a healthy diet. They promote heart health, aid in weight management, and help prevent chronic diseases.
• Reducing Food Wastage: Unlike meat, which has a short shelf life, pulses have a long shelf life and enhance dietary diversity.
• Soil Fertility: Pulses naturally fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, improving soil biodiversity and fertility.
• Crop Rotation: Pulses are widely used in crop rotation, enhancing the efficiency of chemical fertilizers and supporting sustainable farming.
• Rural Employment: Pulses cultivation creates employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, especially for rural women and youth.
• Genetic Diversity: Pulses exhibit broad genetic diversity, enabling the development of climate-resilient varieties.
• Agroforestry: Growing pulses alongside other crops improves food security and boosts farmers’ income.
• Animal Husbandry: Pulse crop residues serve as high-quality feed for livestock.
• Environmental Benefits: Pulses have a low carbon footprint and require minimal water, making them an environmentally sustainable protein source.