The Food and Agriculture Organization has listed ten reasons why we should opt for pulses in our diet. While FAO describes pulses as nature's nutritious foods the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed February 10 as World Pulses Day to build awareness of how apart from providing nutrition pulses contribute to sustainable food security. The theme is chosen for this year – "Pulses to empower youth in achieving sustainable agri-food systems" has great significance for Assam. Some of the benefits of eating pulses listed by FAO are: pulses are naturally low in fat and contain no cholesterol, which can contribute to reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, pulses are also low in sodium and can help reduce hypertension, a great source of plant-based protein, a good source of iron which can help in preventing malnutrition. Besides, pulses are high in potassium, which supports heart health and plays an important role in digestive and muscular functions. Apart from home-based diets, pulses form an important component of Mid Day Meals served to school children in the state for meeting their nutritious requirements. School Management Committees of over 53,000 schools in Assam in Mid Day Meals are served, procure pulses from local markets. Pulse production in Assam declined from 1.13 lakh Metric Tonnes (MT) in 2018-19 to 1.06 lakh MT in 2019-2020 but subsequently increased to 1.19 lakh MT in 2020-21. The current production in the state can meet only about 14% of total demand and the remaining 86% of the total requirement is met by procuring from other states. This results in an annual outflow of about Rs 500 crore from the state. The amount keeps rising with the demand rising and the rise in prices at the source. According to Assam Agri Vision 2025 requirement of pulses is projected to increase from 8,91,355 MT in 2022-23; 9,09,182 MT in 2023-24; 9,27,366 MT to 9,45,913 MT in 2025-26. If the state's production does not increase to meet the rising demand, the outflow of cash from the state is set to increase which needs to be reversed. The shortfall in production brings an opportunity to generate livelihood in rural Assam in the agriculture sector. Increasing production in the state will also help bring down prices of pulses by cutting down transportation costs incurred in procurement from Mandis far away. Expanding the area under pulses must be backed with quality post-harvest management and creating large storage infrastructure to ensure a remunerative price for produce. Indian Institute of Pulses Research at Kanpur in a bulletin on post-harvest management of pulses highlights the fact that post-harvest losses from harvesting to milling to transport vary from 25-30% and reduction of the losses by about 50% can increase the availability of the additional quantity of 1.5 to 2 million tonnes of pulses in India. Five key strategies for boosting pulse production in Assam include the increase of area under rabi pulse by another 1.75 lakh hectares by 2025-26, increase of productivity from the present level of 600 kg/ha to 1200 kg/ha by 2025-26, increasing area under Arahar (Pigeon Pea) during Kharif season, popularization of modern pulse production technology like improved seeds and use of bio-fertilizers and introduction of rabi pulse as intermediate crop under irrigated ecology. Attaining the productivity of 1200 kg/Ha is projected to bring down the deficit of pulses availability in the state to 18% from the current level of about 86%. The target looks ambitious given the low productivity and slow pace of expansion of area under pulses, but benefits will be huge if the target can be achieved. Quality of seeds plays a critical role in increasing productivity but is often ignored and farmers raising allegations of distribution of poor-quality seeds under subsidised seeds distribution are brushed under the carpet. With 53% of the state labour force engaged in agriculture and allied activities, expansion of area under pulses and increasing the productivity can provide gainful employment to lakhs of farm families and strengthen the rural economy. On its part, the state government ensuring remunerative prices for the surplus crop will be crucial in attracting rural youth to explore livelihood opportunities by taking to pulse production and other activities on pulses value chains such as milling, packaging, and marketing. Building awareness on the benefits of eating pulses can contribute to pushing the demand which in turn can ensure a locally available market for producers and entrepreneurs and make pulse production economically sustainable. This global day observed today reminds the State Government and more particularly the Agriculture Department to undertake a comprehensive review of the ongoing schemes and programmes to identify the gaps so that targets set in Agri Vision 2025 can be achieved. Higher allocations in the Assam budget for the 2022-23 financial year will help the rapid expansion of the area and increase the productivity of pulses in the state provided judicious and timely utilisation of funds released is ensured.