http://www.fao.org/pulses-2016/en/ International Year of Pulses - Global Dialogue - IYP Thematic Presentations - Boubaker Ben Belhassen, Director Trade and Markets Division, FAO

1. Policies for pulses production, trade and programmes

2. • Pulses are edible seeds that are extracted from
the pods of a variety of plant species belonging
to the legume family
• Dry beans, dry peas, lentils, chick peas, broad
beans, cow peas, pigeon peas, lupins, etc.
• Both a homogenous and heterogeneous group
2
Pulses… what are they?

3. 3
Global production of pulses
Beans, dry
31%
Chick peas
17%
Peas, dry
15%
Cow peas
10%
Other pulses
9%
Lentils
6%
Pigeon peas
6%
Broad beans
6%
Production shares, 2012-2014
(77 million tonnes)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1961
1964
1967
1970
1973
1976
1979
1982
1985
1988
1991
1994
1997
2000
2003
2006
2009
2012
Production (mil t) Area harvested (mil ha)
Total Area and Production, 1961-2014

4. 4
Yields… large regional differences
t/ha
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
1961
1964
1967
1970
1973
1976
1979
1982
1985
1988
1991
1994
1997
2000
2003
2006
2009
2012
Africa
N America
S America
Asia
Europe

5. 5
Utilization of pulses… mostly food
• Pulses are mostly used for
human consumption: about
70% (in 2009-2011)
• Use of pulses for animal
feed has grown (mostly dry
peas and lupins and mostly
in rich countries)0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Food use Feed use Other uses
Total utilization (million tonnes) Food vs. feed pulses

6. 6
Global trade in pulses
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
1961
1964
1967
1970
1973
1976
1979
1982
1985
1988
1991
1994
1997
2000
2003
2006
2009
2012
Total Exports (Mil. T) Export Value (Bil. US$)
Total exports of pulses
Volume (%) Value (%)
Dry peas 33% 21%
Dry beans 31% 43%
Lentils 16% 17%
Chick peas 11% 13%
Broad beans 6% 4%
Trade shares (2011-2013)

7. 7
Pulses… crops of the future
• Nutrition – nutritional benefits of eating pulses (rich in protein
and fibres, high in minerals, low levels of fat…)
• Environment – agronomic benefits of cultivating pulses (improve
soil health, own fertilizer, low energy use, reduce GHG…)
• Health – health benefits of pulses (…and don’t forget the taste!)
• Economic – pulses are cultivated by many smallholders and
family farmers
… Pulses seem the right response to several SDGs

8. 8
Policy Action
• First thing: Recognize the importance of pulses
• Production (cultivation, yields)
• Value chains (seed systems, storage, post-harvest losses…)
• Consumption
• Trade (SPS measures, TBTs)
• Data and market information… a real issue
Essential for all stakeholders to continue
promoting pulses beyond the IYP 2016

9. 9
Thank you
Trade and Markets Division, FAO
boubaker.benbelhassen@fao.org