Lentil production in Australia likely to be badly affected by adverse weather
02-Nov-2024 02:08 PM
Brisbane. Due to adverse weather conditions in Australia's two important lentil producing states - South Australia and Victoria, the crop is under serious threat and there is a possibility of a huge drop in its production.
A leading industry-trade organization - PIRSA has expressed the possibility of lentil production in these two states declining to just 4.28 lakh tons during the current season,
which is half of the estimate of 8.60 lakh tons made by the government agency - ABARES. Generally, PIRSA's production estimate is smaller than that of the government agency.
Most analysts and experts consider PIRSA's production estimate to be correct, while the estimated figure of some critics lies in between the two.
According to a leading analyst, due to lack of good rains for a long time in the major producing areas of South Australia province, the soil of the fields has become hard and due to severe lack of moisture in it, the growth of the crop has stopped. This is indicating a decrease in the yield rate and the quality of lentil grain being affected.
India is a major buyer of Australian lentils. Australia mainly produces red lentils. In view of the growing diplomatic dispute between India and Canada, many Indian importers had started turning towards Australia,
but if there is a sharp decline in production there, then the challenge for India can also increase. The global market price of lentils can also remain high and strong.
The weather has remained dry for a long time in Australia's Victoria province and especially in the Wimmera region, which is considered a major lentil producing area.
In view of this, a leading organization has expressed the possibility of a total production of 11.70 lakh tonnes of lentils in Australia this time, which is 5.20 lakh tonnes less than the estimate of 16.90 lakh tonnes made by ABARES.
Earlier, the production of 16.90 lakh tonnes of lentils in Australia was estimated to be 15.70 lakh tonnes in 2023 and 16.90 lakh tonnes in 2022. Canada will benefit the most from the sharp decline in lentil production in Australia.