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DISCUSSION No. 128 • FSN Forum digest No. 1237
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Pulses are praised for their health, environmental and economic benefits. How can their full potential be tapped?
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until 19 June 2016
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Dear Members,
Today we share the latest contributions to the online discussion exploring the benefits of
pulses
(legumes harvested solely for the dry grain such as beans, chickpeas and lentils, etc.) as well as challenges related to their production.
Below you can also read the feedback to some of the comments from Teodardo Calles, FAO technical expert on pulses.
We invite you to keep sharing information that will allow us to understand better how important pulses are for the diets
in your families, communities and countries. Also let us know how you prepare them and what you think could be done to increase their contribution to food security and better nutrition.
Please visit the
discussion page to read all comments received, to access background information and to post your contributions, which are welcome in all UN languages.
We look forward to keep receiving your comments.
Your FSN Forum team
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Teodardo Calles, Agricultural Officer, FAO, Italy
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Dear participants,
I am very happy that members of this forum are not only expressing their opinions about pulses but are also sharing interesting
material about pulses around the world.
This information will help us to sharpen the focus of the second half of the
2016 International Year of Pulses.
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Participants to this discussion clearly agreed that pulses are of crucial importance for humankind. However, as expressed
by Mr. Dhakal, this year should go beyond the raising awareness campaign and work towards helping the most vulnerable farmers. In order to achieve
this, research and extension on underutilized pulse species, which in many cases are well adapted to local environmental conditions, should be promoted, as suggested by
Prof. KV Peter, and traditional pulse-based dishes that are disappearing should be supported, as pointed out by
Prof. Houngbo. In other words, we need to increase the number of pulses that can be grown in marginal areas as suggested by
Prof. Howieson.
However, I also believe it is of particular significance to make children realize the importance of pulses, as expressed
by Ms. Yesudas; then they will be able to appreciate this kind of food and hopefully this will support dietary shift as noted by
Dr. Boyle.
This discussion will be ongoing until 19.06.2016 and therefore we would appreciate if you could keep contributing and
extend this invitation to your colleagues.
Teodardo Calles
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CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED
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Seyyed
Hossain Sabbaghpour, AREEO, Islamic Republic of Iran
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Seyyed describes the production of pulses in Iran, where the internal demand is satisfied although there are still areas
with high potential for producing especially chickpeas and lentils in dryland conditions. He also explores the main challenges, which relate to drought, cold, ascochyta blight and fusarium wilt.
Read
the comment
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Dr
Amanullah, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan
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Dr Amanullah shares a list of research papers on pulses he contributed to.
Read
the comment
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Emile
Houngbo, Agricultural University of Ketou (UAK), Benin
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Emile's contribution provides a perspective from Benin on the use and benefits of pulses. In his country there are still
problems regarding their large-scale adoption and increase in production despite the undeniable advantages of these crops. Furthermore Emile adds that some traditional pulse-based dishes such as Ataklè and Magni Magni are disappearing.
Read
the contribution
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