Pulse Output Concerns Likely to Keep Imports Going
22-Nov-2025 12:13 PM
New Delhi. While the sowing of pulse crops for the Rabi season is progressing well, favorable weather conditions are necessary for optimal production in the coming months.
The situation for pulse crops in the Kharif season has not been encouraging. Although the overall area sown remained nearly normal, natural disasters have caused crop damage. This is likely to impact the production of tur, urad, and mung beans, especially.
Data from the Union Agriculture Ministry shows that during the 2024-25 Kharif season, a total of 77.33 lakh tons of pulses were produced, including 36.24 lakh tons of tur, 13.41 lakh tons of urad, and 17.74 lakh tons of mung beans,
slightly higher than the 2023-24 Kharif season production of 69.74 lakh tons. In comparison, tur (tur) production is expected to decline to 30-32 lakh tonnes in the 2025-26 Kharif season.
Urad and mung production is also expected to decline, but these are cultivated in both the Rabi and Zaid seasons, so it is difficult to estimate total production. Sowing of urad and mung (green) crops for the Rabi season has already begun, and this is the focus of all attention.
The government has imposed an import duty of 30 percent on yellow peas and 10 percent each on desi gram and lentils, while imports of tur and urad are still duty-free.
Exporting countries are speculating that the Indian government may increase the import duty on lentils to 30 percent. Prices of various pulses have fallen significantly in the global market due to increased competition among exporting countries due to the excellent production.
All countries are focused on India, which remains the largest producer and consumer of pulses, as well as the largest importer.
Due to weak domestic production and soft global market prices, India will continue to import major pulses, except mung beans.
Estimating foreign imports will only be possible once the picture of Rabi pulse production becomes clearer. New supplies will begin arriving next year.