Moong-Urad area increased but Tuvar area lagged behind
01-Jul-2025 05:52 PM
New Delhi. The production area of the most important pulse crop of the Kharif season – Arhar (Tuvar) is lagging behind last year. Till June 27, the sowing area of Tuvar reached 8.35 lakh hectares, which is 3.7 percent or 32 thousand hectares less than last year’s 8.67 lakh hectares.
However, there is not much difference in the sowing area and if the weather and monsoon conditions remain favorable in top producing states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, then this minor difference in the total area can be easily compensated.
On the other hand, during the period under review, the production area of Urad increased from 1.42 lakh hectares to 2.35 lakh hectares and the sowing area of Moong jumped from 4.30 lakh hectares to 8.58 lakh hectares.
Of course, the government has increased the minimum support price (MSP) of tur by Rs 450 from Rs 7550 per quintal for the 2024-25 season to Rs 8000 per quintal for the 2025-26 season and the support price of urad by Rs 400 from Rs 7400 per quintal to Rs 7800 per quintal,
but at the same time, uninterrupted import of cheap tur from African countries will continue, which may also keep pressure on the domestic market price. Even now, foreign tur is cheaper than the domestic product, while the supply of new crop will start in Africa after the next few weeks.
During the current Kharif season, compared to last year, there has been some increase in the production area of tur in Maharashtra and Gujarat, but the sowing area in Karnataka has decreased.
Farmers still have enough time to sow tur, but there is a lack of enthusiasm and morale. There is still a need for rain in the producing areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The wholesale market price of tur is running much below the government support price and farmers are not getting attractive returns on their produce.
This may deter producers. The government has reiterated its resolve to buy 100 percent surplus quantity of tur, but still it seems doubtful whether farmers will show much interest in cultivating this important pulse.
Nothing can be said with certainty until the sowing process is over. If the prices of tur increase during the current month, then farmers may get an incentive to increase its acreage.