Experts seek policy reforms to revive pulses’ production & strengthen food system

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Mar, 2026) Pakistan’s growing reliance on pulses imports is costing nearly US$1 billion annually, which is a stark reflection of declining domestic production and widening food and protein crises, experts warned at a seminar.

The seminar, titled: ‘Developing Competitive and Inclusive Value Chains of Pulses in Pakistan’, was organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) here on Tuesday.

Prof Dr Azam Khan, the Chairman of Department of Horticulture, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, said Pakistan’s heavy dependence on pulses import represents a major drain on foreign exchange, particularly at a time when the country is facing acute economic pressures.

He noted that pulses are a key source of affordable nutrition for low-income populations, yet farmers are shifting to more profitable crops due to low margins in pulse cultivation. He called upon the government to bring about urgent policy reforms and value chain development to revive pulses’ production and strengthen the country’s food system.

SDPI Deputy Executive Director, Qasim Shah, highlighted that pulses’ role in ensuring food and nutrition security is critical, particularly at a time when Pakistan is grappling with rising poverty and food affordability issues. Citing statistics, he said the cost of a basic diet in Pakistan stands at around $3.9 per person per day, while average daily wages remain lower, making balanced nutrition inaccessible for many.

He said that 40 per cent of households in the country suffer from protein deficiency, while over 24 per cent of the population faces moderate to severe food insecurity. He maintained that affordable protein sources such as pulses are vital for the country’s food security strategy.

Dr Munawar Raza Kazmi, Country Manager of ACIAR, said the organization had been working with Pakistani partners since 2017 to improve pulse production, marketing and value chains. ACIAR promotes collaborative research rather than working in isolation, he said, adding that Australia is the world’s largest producer and exporter of pulses, while Pakistan remains an important importer.

Furthermore, Dr Kazmi added that field research has been conducted in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, and Bhakkar, engaging local farmers to test improved practices.

However, he maintained that one of the missing links had been connecting research findings with policymakers. “If we generate quality evidence but fail to communicate it effectively to policymakers, it is our flaw,” he remarked, appreciating SDPI’s role in bridging the gap between research and policy circles. He stressed that Pakistan must revive pulse cultivation on fertile lands instead of relegating it to marginal areas.

Providing an overview of the sector, Dr Shahid Riaz Malik, Pulses Expert, said Pakistan’s total cropped area is about 22.51 million hectares, but pulses cover only 1.16 million hectares, which is just 05 per cent of the total crop area. Beyond major pulses grown in the country include lentils, chickpeas, mung beans, mash and kidney beans.

However, he said production trends remain concerning. He pointed out that while the national average pulse yield is about 553 kg per hectare, progressive farmers achieve up to 1,500 kg per hectare, indicating a significant yield gap.

Presenting findings from the ACIAR project, Dr Burhan Ahmed, Project Lead, said the initiative is being implemented by the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in collaboration with partner institutions across six sites, such as Multan, Mankera, Chakwal, Karak, Sukkur and Larkana.

He said the project follows a participatory and whole-of-chain approach, engaging farmers, communities and market actors to co-design solutions while promoting gender and social inclusion to empower women, youth and marginalized groups.

The research identified several major constraints, including poor seed quality, disease outbreaks, climate risks, low farm-gate prices, weak farmer-market linkages and inadequate post-harvest and processing facilities.

However, the project also encountered challenges such as limited trust between growers and commercial partners, irregular demand from buyers, logistics constraints and quality control issues at farm level.

Highlighting policy initiatives, Dr Arshad Bashir, Director, Social Sciences Research Institute at PARC, said the project led to the formation of a Project Advisory Committee and a national Pulses Taskforce to guide policy development. He said the Pulses Industry Development Strategy (PIDS) had been developed through stakeholder consultations and policy forums.