World Pulses Day - 10 February.

Every year on February 10th, World Pulses Day celebrates the dry edible seeds of plants called pulses. The day also seeks to promote the many health benefits of pulses.

What are pulses?

Pulses, also known as legumes, are the edible seeds of leguminous plants cultivated for food. Dried beans, lentils and peas are the most commonly known and consumed types of pulses.

Staples dishes and cuisines from across the world feature pulses, from hummus in the Mediterranean (chick peas), to a traditional full English breakfast (baked navy beans) to Indian dal (peas or lentils).

Pulses do not include crops that are harvested green (e.g. green peas, green beans)—these are classified as vegetable crops. Also excluded are those crops used mainly for oil extraction (e.g. soybean and groundnuts) and leguminous crops that are used exclusively for sowing purposes (e.g. seeds of clover and alfalfa).

Pulses are high in dietary fiber and are an excellent low-fat source of protein. Pulses contain micronutrients like iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins.

Other health benefits include:

• Helps to prevent and control diabetes
• Reduces risk of heart disease
• Lowers the risk of certain cancers
• Reduces cholesterol levels
• Aids in weight management

Recognizing their value, on 20 December 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/68/231) proclaiming 2016 as the International Year of Pulses (IYP). The celebration of the year, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), increased the public awareness of the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production.

Building on the success of the International Year of Pulses and recognizing their potential to further achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with particular relevance to Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 13 and 15, Burkina Faso proposed the observance of World Pulses Day.

In 2019, the General Assembly proclaimed 10 February as the World Pulses Day (resolution A/RES/73/251).

World Pulses Day 2023: Theme

‘Pulses for a Sustainable Future’ as the theme for the 2023 celebration. This year’s celebration will highlight the contribution of pulses towards improving soil productivity, increasing the resilience of farming systems, providing a better life for farmers in water-scarce environments, and more. Since pulses have a low water footprint and can better tolerate drought and climate-related disasters, they are imperative to sustainable food production.

Source: www.un.org

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