India’s area under pulses acreage tops last year’s level

Kharif pulses area has surpassed last year’s levels. As on August 28, the acreage registered an increase of 1.68 per cent at 111.46 lakh hectares (lh) over 109.62 lh a year ago.

The delayed onset and slow progress of South-West monsoon impacted the sowing in the early part of the kharif cropping season, while in the recovery in rainfall in the western and central parts of the country in the recent weeks aided the sowing.

The increase in acreage of urad, tur and moth bean has driven the increase in pulses area this year, while moong bean saw a decline. Though the shortfall in area has largely been made up, the yields are likely to be under pressure, influenced by erratic rainfall and delayed sowing in several areas.

Tur up marginally

“The increase in area doesn’t necessarily mean output will rise as productivity matters. Sowing has taken at a slower pace and several states such as Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra have reported less rains. If September rains are less as predicted by IMD, the yields are likely to be under pressure,” said Rahul Chauhan of IGrain India.

Tur area has increased a tad to 44.59 lh, higher than last year’s 44.31 lh and is above the normal area of 44.31 lh for the period. Key producing states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh saw a decline, while the area has grown in other states. In Karnataka, tur acreage was 12.63 lh against 14.16 lh a year ago, a decline of 11 per cent.

In Maharashtra, the decline in area was 1.56 per cent at 11.98 lh against 12.17 lh. In Madhya Pradesh, the area was down 15 per cent at 2.74 lh (3.24 lh a year ago). However, in Gujarat, the tur area was flat at 2.71 lh.

Moong area dips

Uttar Pradesh saw an increase of 33 per cent to 4.95 lh (3.72 lh), while Chhattisgarh also saw an increase of 9 per cent to 1.03 lh (0.94 lh). Telangana saw an increase of 16 per cent to 2.22 lh (1.90 lh), while Andhra saw an increase of 20 per cent to 2.3 lh (1.92 lh). Interestingly, Jharkhand saw an increase of over 51 per cent at 2.05 lh (1.36 lh)

In the case of urad, the Central and Northern states of Uttar Pradesh, MP, Rajasthan and Gujarat have seen an increase in area, while Maharasthra and Karnataka have seen a decline. UP saw an increase of 61 per cent at 6.14 lh (3.81 lh), while Rajasthan has seen an increase of 27 per cent at 3.99 lh (3.13 lh) and MP has seen an increase of 19 per cent at 7.07 lh (5.92 lh). Maharashtra has seen sharp decline of 47 per cent at 1.98 lh (3.76 lh), while Karantaka has seen a decline of 21 per cent at 0.77 lh (0.97 lh).

In case of moong, the acreage has seen a decline in all major producing states of Rajasthan, Karnataka and Maharashtra. In Rajasthan, the decline is 1.5 per cent at 23.17 lh (23.53 lh), while in Karnataka the dip in acreage is 7.14 per cent at 3.9 lh (4.2 lh) and Maharashtra at 30 per cent at 1.47 lh (2.10 lh).

Published on August 28, 2026