Top Other Pulse Producing Countries

“Other pulse” refers to edible leguminous crops excluding the major pulses like beans, chickpeas, lentils, and peas. This category includes crops such as bambara groundnut, pigeon pea, cowpea, lupins, and vetches. The top countries farming these pulses today are India, Nigeria, Myanmar, Niger, and Ethiopia, with India and Nigeria being especially prominent due to the importance of pulses in their diets and farming systems. The history of “other pulses” farming is ancient and diverse: pigeon pea and cowpea were domesticated in sub-Saharan Africa thousands of years ago and spread across Asia and the Americas through trade and migration. Lupins were first cultivated by the ancient Egyptians and later by Greeks and Romans, valued for their ability to grow in poor soils and fix nitrogen. Over centuries, these crops have played a crucial role in sustainable agriculture, providing protein, improving soil fertility, and supporting food security in regions with challenging growing conditions. Today, their cultivation continues to expand, especially in areas seeking climate-resilient and nutritious crops.

Data from United Nations FAO Stat