Global demand for pulses is rapidly increasing. Pulses are emerging as ‘future food’ in developed and many African countries. For South Asia region, pulses are traditionally important food commodities and cheap sources of protein. The region is now experiencing shortages of pulses and causing increase in imports. The challenge is to increase pulses production efficiently not only to meet the domestic requirement in the region but also supply for new consumers in developed and African countries.

Celebrating the International Year of Pulses 2016, the two day conference is spread across the themes:

• Theme 1: Pulses production, consumption and environmental services
• Theme 2: Pulses prices and markets
• Theme 3: Policies and institutions
• Theme 4: Pulses for human health

Session 1: Inaugural Session (09:30-10:50)

Chief Guest: Ramesh Chand, NITI Aayog 
Chairperson: R B Singh, Former President, NAAS

P K Joshi, IFPRI, Welcome and Conference Background (09:30-09:40)

John McDermott, CGIAR-A4NH, Pulse Innovation Partnership (09:40-09:55)

Ramesh Chand, NITI Aayog, Inaugural Address (09:55-10:10)

Shenggen Fan, IFPRI, Global Food Policy Report 2016: Food System and SDG’s (10:10-10:25)

Shyam Bahadur Khadka, FAO, Comments on IFPRI’s Global Food Policy Report (10:25-10:40)

R B Singh, Former President, NAAS, Remarks by Chairperson (10:40-10:55)

Group Photo and Tea and Coffee Break (10:55-11:15)