World Pulses Day

Pulses (legumes) include dried beans, lentils and peas, and are staples in many diets. With high nutritional value, pulses are an ideal source of protein, low in fat and rich in soluble fibre. They are recommended by health organizations for the management of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart conditions. Pulses are an important crop for farmers to sell and to eat, and the nitrogen-fixing properties of pulses improve soil fertility, increasing and extending farmland productivity. Using pulses for inter-cropping and cover crops promotes farm and soil biodiversity, keeps pests and diseases at bay and reduces dependence on synthetic fertilizers (the manufacturing and application of these fertilizers leading to the release of greenhouse gases). World Pulses Day is to increase public awareness of the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production.