Maintaining the record pulses output of 2016-17 (Jul-Jun) this year would be a challenge as some farmers have shifted to other crops looking for better realisations. Last year we harvested record pulses and reached close to self-sufficiency. This year it seems a challenge. Indian farmers harvested 22.95 million tonne of pulses in 2016-17, up from 16.35 million tonne previous year, according to the fourth advance estimates of farm ministry. National Bulk Handling Corp Pvt Ltd has estimated India’s kharif pulses output for 2017-18 at 8.5 million tonne, less than 9.4 million tonne harvested a year ago. India’s pulses output seen falling this year as the bumper crop last year weighed on prices, discouraging farmers from sowing pulses.