Pulses are grown in virtually every corner of the globe. They have a strong history of nourishing people around the world for centuries. Along with the early cereal grains, pulses were among the first crops cultivated as far back as 11,000 years ago.
In the past three decades, global pulse production has grown rapidly. In the past ten years alone, the world has produced between 50 and 60 million tonnes of pulses each year.
As of 2015, the world's biggest producers of pulses were India, Canada, Myanmar, China, Nigeria, Brazil, Australia, USA, Russia, and Tanzania, while the world's most important pulse exporters also include Argentina, France, Ethiopia, and Turkey.
Overall there were nearly 173 countries in the world that grew and exported pulses between 2010 and 2013!
Pulse Producing Countries
Pulse fields can be found on every continent. Learn more about where pulses are grown.
Meet the Farmers
Hear from farmers around the world about why they grow pulses on their farms