Pulses are an important part of India’s food system, from daily meals to nutrition security. For many farmers, especially in rain-fed regions, pulses are also a practical crop choice: lower water use, lower input costs, and better soil health. But for many farmers growing pulses, incomes are still uncertain.
Prices change quickly, sales happen in small quantities, and farmers often have limited options after harvest.
On World Pulses Day, it is worth looking at a simple question: what actually helps pulse farmers earn better and more stable incomes?
From Samunnati’s work across pulse-growing regions, one answer is clear: strong Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) make a real difference.
The Income Challenge in Pulse Farming
Pulse cultivation in India is mostly done by small and marginal farmers. Many of them grow pulses in states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha.
Farmers usually sell soon after harvest, when prices are low. Storage options are limited, and selling individually means weak bargaining power. Quality differences, because of uneven seed quality or basic post-harvest handling, also affect prices.
So, the challenge is not only about how much farmers produce, but how they sell and how much value they can keep.
Why FPOs Matter for Pulse Farmers
Pulse-growing FPOs help farmers come together and sell as a group.
Across Samunnati’s engagements, pulse FPOs operate in districts such as Prakasam and Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh), Latur and Nashik (Maharashtra), Mahabubabad and Sangareddy (Telangana), Mandla (Madhya Pradesh), and Balangir (Odisha).
When farmers aggregate produce through FPOs, they can handle volumes, that buyers are interested in, something seen repeatedly across Samunnati-supported pulse FPOs. This kind of scale is difficult for individual farmers, but possible through collective effort.
Inputs: Where Income Improvement Really Starts
Better incomes don’t start at the mandi. They start in the field.
Many pulse farmers still use saved seeds or whatever inputs are easily available. This leads to uneven crop performance. Through FPO-led planning, farmers can access certified seeds, proper nutrition, and timely advice.
At Samunnati, input planning at FPO level is linked with expected market demand. When farmers use appropriate inputs and follow similar practices, crop quality becomes more uniform, making bulk aggregation and sale easier. Simply put, good inputs make better aggregation possible.
Aggregation and Timing Reduce Distress Sales
One of the biggest income gains for pulse farmers comes from selling at the right time.
FPOs that can aggregate produce and hold it even for a short period help farmers avoid distress sales immediately after harvest. With some storage and working capital, FPOs can wait for better prices.
Samunnati supports FPOs in setting up basic systems such as member procurement records, bulk handling, and buyer coordination, enabling planned rather than rushed sales.
Quality, Cleaning, and Better Market Access
Today, pulse buyers look for consistency. Clean produce, uniform grain size, and proper moisture levels matter.
Individual farmers often cannot meet these requirements alone. FPOs, however, can invest in simple cleaning and grading. This allows them to access better buyers and negotiate better prices.
In states like Telangana and Maharashtra, FPOs supported by Samunnati have seen improved realisation once they started selling cleaner, organised lots instead of loose produce.
Finance That Supports Better Decisions
Pulse farming and aggregation need timely working capital.
FPOs with clear records and regular operations are better placed to access formal finance. Samunnati enables access to finance aligned with crop cycles, which gives FPOs the ability to choose when to sell rather than selling early because cash is tight.
A Short Case from the Field
A pulse-growing FPO in Telangana, earlier saw most of its members selling individually to local traders. Volumes were small, quality varied, and price realisation depended largely on local demand at the time of harvest.
With structured engagement, the FPO began collective input planning for pulses, ensured the use of certified seeds, and introduced basic cleaning at the aggregation point. Members were encouraged to bring produce to the FPO instead of selling it immediately after harvest.
With support to manage bulk aggregation and working capital, the FPO started planned sales and handled pulse transactions of over ₹3 million. Over time, members who earlier sold immediately after harvest began waiting for the FPO’s planned procurement window.
The shift was gradual but clear; farmers moved from individual, distress-driven sales to organised selling through their own institution.
Building Resilience Through Collective Action
Pulse crops are often grown in rain-fed areas, where weather risks are high. FPOs help farmers manage this risk better through advisory, diversification, and collective planning.
More importantly, FPOs build confidence and stability. Farmers don’t face markets alone; they act as part of a group.
World Pulses Day: The Role of Strong Institutions
On World Pulses Day, it’s important to recognise not just the crop, but the systems that support farmers.
Pulse-growing FPOs are not just about aggregation. They help with input planning, bulk handling, quality improvement, market access, and finance. When these institutions are strong, farmers earn better from the same land.
Samunnati’s experience suggests that farmer incomes improve not only when yields increase, but when farmers gain greater control over how their produce is grown, handled, and sold.
As pulses continue to play a key role in India’s food security, strengthening farmer institutions will remain central to making pulse farming more rewarding for those who grow these crops, not by changing what farmers grow, but by changing how markets work for them.
