Pulses sowing area sees gradual increase in Kharif season

23-Jun-2026 12:42 PM

New Delhi: The sowing of Kharif pulses is gradually picking up pace, although rainfall remains largely deficient in major producing states. This has restricted cultivation of crops such as arhar (tur), urad, and kulthi to limited areas. However, moong (green gram) cultivation has increased significantly due to its lower water requirement.

According to the latest data from the Union Ministry of Agriculture, the total area under pulses has risen to 7.21 lakh hectares in the current Kharif season, up from 6.39 lakh hectares during the same period last year—an increase of 82,000 hectares.

During the review period, the area under arhar (tur) increased slightly from 1.59 lakh hectares to 1.61 lakh hectares, while kulthi rose marginally from 8,000 hectares to 9,000 hectares. Moong acreage, however, showed a sharp rise from 2.86 lakh hectares to 4.08 lakh hectares.

In contrast, urad cultivation declined from 98,000 hectares to 62,000 hectares, while other pulses such as moth bean and khesari also fell from 87,000 hectares to 71,000 hectares.

Meanwhile, the monsoon has started becoming more active, which may further influence sowing trends in the coming weeks.