The centre has decided to bring the programme as it has been difficult to meet the demand for pulses in this region though the production of pulses was increasing of late.[break]
Participants of the regional meeting organised by Centre has agreed to bring the project and urged the countries concerned to keep the pulses farming in their priority list.
Around 40 agricultural experts from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and other SAARC countries had participated in the meeting that was concluded on Wednesday.
During the three-day meeting, representatives from the concerned countries had presented papers on the pulses production condition, farmers´ problems on the farming, traditional system of planting pulses and others.
India is the largest producer of pulses in the region. Pakistan and Nepal are the second and the third largest producers of pulses, respectively. Canada, Turkey and other European countries imports the pulses from the SAARC region after the production in their countries could not meet the demand for pulses there.
Addressing the concluding function, Director General of the Centre, Dr. Abul Kalam Ajad stressed on the need for carrying out special programme to increase the production of the pulses.
Dr. Niranjan Prasad Adhikari of the Nepal Agricultural Research Council said researches should be carried out in order to increase the productivity of pulses.
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