Black gram (Vigna Mungo L.), is one of the important pulses crop, grown throughout the country. The crop is resistant to adverse climatic conditions and improve the soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the soil. It has been reported that the crop produces equivalent to 22.10 kg of N/ha., which has been estimated to be supplement of 59 thousand tonnes of urea annually. The pulse 'Black gram' plays an important role in Indian diet, as it contains vegetable protein and supplement to cereal based diet. It contains about 26% protein, which is almost three times that of cereals and other minerals and vitamins. Besides, it is also used as nutritive fodder, specially for milch animals.

Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are major blackgram growing states area-wise. India is its primary origin and is mainly cultivated in Asian countries including Pakistan, Myanmar and parts of Southern Asia. About 70 per cent of the world's blackgram production comes from India. India is the world's largest producer as well as consumer of blackgram. The contribution of blackgram acreage in Andhra Pradesh before bifurcation was 14 per cent to total blackgram production of India and after bifurcation.