Decline in sowing area of ​​pulses other than gram

17-Dec-2024 06:14 PM

The sowing area of pulses, excluding gram, has shown a decline during the current Rabi season compared to last year. Official data reveals that by December 16, 2024, the total area for pulses cultivation reached 123.27 lakh hectares, which is 44,000 hectares less than the 123.71 lakh hectares recorded at the same time in 2023.

While the sowing area of gram increased by 1.58 lakh hectares, from 84.42 lakh hectares last year to 86 lakh hectares this year, other pulse crops showed a decrease in area.

Lentils, for example, saw a reduction from 16.29 lakh hectares to 16.03 lakh hectares. Similarly, the area for peas decreased from 8.64 lakh hectares to 8.50 lakh hectares, while the sowing of green gram fell dramatically from 1.18 lakh hectares to just 44,000 hectares.

The production area of black gram also dropped from 3.86 lakh hectares to 3.19 lakh hectares, though the sowing area for other pulses, including horse gram and khesari, increased from 2.62 lakh hectares to 3.86 lakh hectares.

In terms of gram sowing, Rajasthan’s progress has lagged behind the target, while Gujarat has surpassed last year’s area. Other major states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka have experienced fluctuations in sowing area.

The area under lentil cultivation was initially ahead of last year’s figures, but it has now fallen behind. Major producers of lentils such as Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar are seeing these declines.

The slowing down of sowing activities is attributed to the drop in domestic pulse prices, which had previously seen a sharp rise.

This reduction in prices has diminished the interest of farmers in cultivating pulses, as the arrival of other Kharif pulse crops like Tuvar in wholesale markets has increased.