Abstract:
The present study aimed to assess the Virtual Water Import of Lentil and Bengal gram
in India. The growing water concerns led to the development of new concepts like
‘Virtual Water’. Pulses, supplemented with cereals, provide a perfect mix of
vegetarian protein and an important source of food sustainability. Sustainable food
contributes to four pillars of food security: availability, access, utilization and stability.
The availability of pulse is less in India due to meagre production, but the utilization is
high and met through import. The productivity of pulses in India is less than half of the
productivity levels in the USA and Canada. Lentil import is high among pulse, i.e.,5.6
lakh tonnes. Even though India is the second largest producer of Lentil, the
consumption exceeds production and is therefore supported by imports. Canada is
the largest supplier of Lentil because it leads in production, where 95 per cent is
produced in the province of Saskatchewan. Virtual Water Trade had been calculated
using virtual water content and quantity of import resulted the specific water demand
is 1.47 kg mm−1, and the average yield is 1238 kg/ha. India also imports chana despite
being the largest producer and having high consumption requirements. The specific
water demand for chana is 1.79 kg mm-1, and the yield is 1547 kg ha-1
. This study shows
that the average virtual water import for India during 2007-2021 in the case of Lentil
is 1.03 billion m3
/year, and for Bengal gram, it is 9.8 million m3
/year. Since the third
world war is predicted to occur because of water crisis the import form countries with
less water requirement for producing pulse is recommended. India by importing Lentil
and Bengal gram instead of producing it domestically, it saves about 2370 and 1790
cubic metres of real indigenous water, respectively. This water can be used for
production of other agricultural commodities in India.
