World Pulses Day: A Global Celebration of Nutrition, Sustainability, and Food Security
World Pulses Day, observed annually on February 10, is a United Nations-recognized event that highlights the indispensable role of pulses—such as lentils, chickpeas, beans, and peas—in fostering sustainable agriculture, improving nutrition, and combating global hunger. Established in 2018 following the success of the International Year of Pulses (2016), this day underscores the critical need to integrate these nutrient-dense crops into diets and farming systems worldwide. In 2025, the theme “Pulses: Bringing Diversity to Agrifood Systems” emphasizes their transformative potential in creating resilient, equitable, and ecologically balanced food systems.
Historical Roots and Global Recognition
The journey to World Pulses Day began with the International Year of Pulses (IYP) 2016, spearheaded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The IYP campaign was a monumental effort to raise global awareness about the numerous benefits of pulses, both nutritionally and environmentally. The campaign was a huge success, generating worldwide recognition of pulses as essential crops in the fight against malnutrition and climate change. Building on this momentum, Burkina Faso proposed a dedicated day to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This proposal was accepted, and in December 2018, the UNGA adopted Resolution A/RES/73/251, officially designating February 10 as World Pulses Day.
The inaugural celebration in 2019 coincided with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly its goals to eradicate poverty, ensure food security, and promote climate action. Pulses, with their low environmental footprint and high adaptability, emerged as a cornerstone crop for achieving these objectives. The celebration of World Pulses Day each year serves as a reminder of the powerful impact that pulses have in addressing some of the world’s most pressing issues, from food insecurity to environmental sustainability.
The 2025 Theme: Pulses as Catalysts for Diversity
The 2025 theme, “Pulses: Bringing Diversity to Agrifood Systems,” reflects a holistic vision of sustainability. Pulses contribute to three dimensions of diversity:
Agricultural Biodiversity: Pulses play an essential role in promoting agricultural biodiversity. By rotating pulses with cereals or other crops, farmers can break pest cycles, reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and enhance soil health through nitrogen fixation. This improves the overall resilience of agricultural systems, making them more adaptable to climate change and other challenges.
Dietary Diversity: Pulses are a critical component of dietary diversity, especially in regions where protein sources are limited or expensive. Pulses provide an affordable source of high-quality protein, fiber, and micronutrients, addressing malnutrition in vulnerable populations. For instance, chickpeas in hummus (Mediterranean), lentils in Indian dal, and baked beans in British cuisine illustrate the global culinary versatility of pulses. Including pulses in diets can significantly improve nutrition and health outcomes worldwide.
Economic Diversity: Pulses also contribute to economic diversity, particularly for smallholder farmers. By growing pulses alongside subsistence crops, farmers gain economic resilience. Pulses are often sold in local markets, providing a source of income for smallholder farmers, especially in countries like India and sub-Saharan Africa. This diversification can protect farmers from the volatility of global markets and increase their financial stability.
Nutritional Powerhouses
Pulses are among the most nutrient-dense foods on Earth, offering a wealth of health benefits. A single serving of pulses can provide the following key nutrients:
Protein: Pulses are an excellent source of plant-based protein, containing 19–25% protein by weight. This makes them a crucial part of vegetarian and low-meat diets. For those who cannot afford or do not wish to consume animal products, pulses offer a highly nutritious and sustainable alternative.
Fiber and Micronutrients: Pulses are rich in dietary fiber, which is essential for digestive health and maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. They are also packed with vital micronutrients such as iron, zinc, folate, and potassium. These nutrients play a critical role in combatting anemia, supporting maternal health, and boosting immune function.
Disease Prevention: Regular consumption of pulses has been linked to a reduction in the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Pulses have a low glycemic index, meaning they release sugar into the bloodstream slowly, helping to regulate blood sugar levels. Their high fiber content also contributes to cholesterol-reducing properties, making pulses an essential part of heart-healthy diets.
For example, black lentils (urad dal) in India are prized for their high antioxidant content, which supports liver and kidney function. Chickpeas, on the other hand, are known for their drought resistance, making them an especially valuable crop in arid regions where water is scarce.
Environmental and Agricultural Benefits
Pulses are climate-smart crops with unparalleled ecological advantages, making them a key part of sustainable farming practices:
Soil Health: Pulses have a unique ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through their symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria. This process enriches the soil with nitrogen, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and decreasing the environmental impact of farming. Nitrogen fixation can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30%, making pulses an environmentally friendly crop.
Water Efficiency: Pulses are highly water-efficient crops. Producing just 1 kilogram of lentils requires approximately 1,250 liters of water, compared to 13,000 liters for beef. This makes pulses a crucial crop in water-scarce regions, where conserving water resources is essential for sustainable agricultural practices.
Biodiversity: Pulses also contribute to farm biodiversity. Intercropping pulses with cereals like wheat or maize enhances the diversity of crops on a farm, attracting pollinators and beneficial insects. This not only supports the health of the ecosystem but also helps farmers reduce their reliance on chemical pesticides, further benefiting the environment.
In India, pulses cover about 38% of global cultivation area, yet the country faces challenges such as low productivity (766 kg/ha compared to the global average of 1,015 kg/ha). To address this, government initiatives such as the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) aim to improve productivity by promoting better seeds, sustainable farming practices, and improved agricultural infrastructure.
Global Production and India’s Leadership
India is the world leader in pulses production, contributing between 25–38% of the global output. Key producing states in India include:
- Madhya Pradesh (28% of India’s production): This region is known for its major crops like gram (chickpeas), tur (pigeon peas), and moong (green gram).
- Rajasthan and Maharashtra: These states focus on crops like moong, moth, and urad (black gram).
Globally, other major producers of pulses include Canada, China, Myanmar, and Brazil. Canada, for example, achieves higher yields (1,882 kg/ha) compared to India due to the use of advanced farming techniques and better infrastructure. Despite India’s leadership in production, the country still imports pulses to meet its growing domestic demand, highlighting the need for continued efforts to improve productivity.
Challenges and Future Directions
While pulses offer immense potential, several challenges persist in maximizing their benefits:
Climate Vulnerability: Erratic weather patterns, such as droughts and floods, threaten pulses’ yields, particularly in regions like sub-Saharan Africa. Climate change poses a significant risk to the future of pulses, making it essential for farmers to adopt climate-resilient farming practices.
Market Accessibility: Smallholder farmers often face challenges in accessing fair prices for their pulses. Additionally, inadequate storage facilities and post-harvest losses can impact the profitability of pulse farming, particularly in developing countries.
Consumer Awareness: In many parts of the world, pulses are still undervalued and are often associated with "poor man’s food." There is a need to change these perceptions and increase awareness of pulses’ nutritional and environmental benefits, particularly in urban areas.
To address these challenges, the FAO’s 2025 campaign encourages the following strategies:
Policy Advocacy: Integrating pulses into national dietary guidelines and agricultural subsidies can help promote their consumption and production. Governments can also implement policies that support smallholder farmers and improve market access.
Technological Innovation: Advances in food technology, such as cold plasma treatment, can enhance the protein functionality of pulses, making them more appealing and accessible in a wider variety of foods.
Community Engagement: Engaging communities through cooking workshops, school meal programs, and social media campaigns like #LovePulses can help raise awareness and promote the benefits of pulses to a global audience.
Celebrating World Pulses Day 2025
Individuals and organizations can participate in World Pulses Day 2025 by:
Hosting Events: Organizing workshops on pulse-based recipes or sustainable farming practices can educate communities and encourage the adoption of pulse-centric diets.
Donating to Food Banks: Supporting food banks and organizations working to address food insecurity can help provide pulses to vulnerable populations in need.
Advocating on Social Media: Sharing facts, recipes, and stories about pulses on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using the hashtag #WorldPulsesDay can help raise awareness and promote global participation.
Conclusion: A Vision for 2030
World Pulses Day 2025 is not just a celebration but a call to action. By embracing pulses, humanity can address the interconnected crises of malnutrition, climate change, and soil degradation. India’s journey—from a pulses-deficient nation to a global leader—offers a blueprint for other countries. As the FAO emphasizes, pulses are “a symbol of diversity, sustainability, and health,” and their integration into agrifood systems is essential for a more equitable future.
Through collective efforts—spanning farmers, policymakers, chefs, and consumers—the vision of a pulse-powered planet is within reach. Let this World Pulses Day inspire a renewed commitment to these humble yet transformative crops, as they play a central role in building sustainable, healthy, and diverse food systems for the future.
Photo from iStock
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