How can pulses cultivation in rice-fallow lands contribute to nutritional security, soil health and climate resilience?

Rice fallows are fields left idle after the kharif paddy harvest, and India has over 11.68 million ha of them [2]. The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025–26 to 2030–31) aims to add 35 lakh ha of pulses, mainly on rice fallows [1]. Growing pulses on this idle land can serve three goals together.

Nutritional security

• Protein density: pulses contain 20–25% protein, about twice wheat and three times rice [1].
• Closing the intake gap: per-capita consumption is below the recommended 85 g/day, which contributes to protein-energy malnutrition [1]. Fallows add output without taking land from cereals.
• Reaching the poor: NITI Aayog recommends putting pulses into PDS and Mid-Day Meals [1].
• Supply stability: India imported 47.38 lakh tonnes in 2023–24 [1]. Growing more at home cuts exposure to world price shocks.

Soil health

• Biological nitrogen fixation: legumes add nitrogen to the soil, which reduces the fertiliser needed by the next crop [2].
• Breaking cereal monoculture: rice-fallow cropping and intercropping diversify rice-dominated systems [1].
• The Mission also promotes soil-health-friendly practices [1].

Climate resilience

• Water thrift: pulses need less water [2] and can grow on the moisture left in the soil after rice, which saves groundwater.
• Adapted varieties: the Mission pushes short-duration, climate-resilient, pest-resistant seeds [1].
• Risk spreading: a second crop gives farmers a buffer against a failed kharif season and fits rainfed conditions.

Making it work

• Fallows stay idle mainly because of moisture constraints [2]. Seed must reach farmers right after the rice harvest.
• Only 9.25 lakh seed kits reached rice-fallow areas in Rabi 2025–26 [3]. Seed plans should follow the paddy-harvest calendar and be tracked on the SATHI portal [1].
• Assured PM-AASHA procurement through NAFED and NCCF [1] gives farmers a reason to switch.

Rice-fallow pulses turn idle land into protein, healthier soil and lower water stress at the same time. If seed arrives on time, buying centres are in place and pulses reach PDS, the Mission can advance SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) and the State's duty under Article 47 to improve nutrition.