Decline in Arhar (Pigeon Pea) Sowing
30-Jul-2025 08:04 AM
Decline in Arhar (Pigeon Pea) Sowing
★ Pigeon pea sowing has so far declined by 8%.
★ As of July 25, the total sown area stood at 3.49 million hectares, compared to 3.799 million hectares during the same period last year.
★ According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the normal sown area for pigeon pea is 4.471 million hectares.
★ Significant decline in sowing has been observed in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
★ Farmers are increasingly shifting towards more profitable crops such as maize, cotton, and oilseeds.
★ In Karnataka, sowing so far has been 1.301 million hectares, compared to 1.542 million hectares last year.
★ The state’s target is 1.68 million hectares.
★ In Kalaburagi district, the largest producing district in Karnataka, pigeon pea sowing has reached 0.535 million hectares.
★ Sources suggest that the district’s sowing could reach up to 0.6 million hectares, as sowing is still underway in some areas.
★ Due to low prices, many farmers are shifting away from pigeon pea towards crops like maize, cotton, and sugarcane.