Signs of heavy damage to lentil crop due to dry weather and dense fog in Australia

27-Sep-2024 04:39 PM

Brisbane. Although a few weeks ago, a great production of lentil was being estimated in Australia due to favorable weather conditions,

but later there are signs of huge damage to the crop due to dry weather and dense fog in South Australia and Victoria provinces. Due to this, one-third of the crop is expected to be damaged.

According to the government agency- ABARES, during 2024, compared to 2023, the lentil sowing area in Australia increased by 17 percent to 9.27 lakh hectares,

while its production is also expected to increase to 16.90 lakh tonnes. South Australia is the leading producer of lentil.

There, its sowing area jumped 20 percent to 4.70 lakh hectares, while the total production is estimated to increase by 13 percent to 8.60 lakh tonnes.

Although the area under lentil cultivation in Victoria province increased by 13 percent to 4.30 lakh hectares, its production was expected to be 7.90 lakh tonnes, which is almost equal to last year.

But due to drought-like conditions and insufficient rainfall, industry and trade analysts are now estimating the total production of lentils in Australia to fall to between 10-12 lakh tonnes.

The damage caused to the crop due to dense fog is also being assessed there. In some areas where producers were earlier estimating the lentil yield rate to reach 2000 kg per hectare,

now only 500-550 kg per hectare is expected. Due to the very poor quality of the grain and the yield rate, that lentil crop can be used as a fodder crop.

In the 2023-24 marketing season, 13.30 lakh tonnes of lentils were exported from Australia till July 2024. On an average, more than one lakh tonne of lentils was shipped per month.

There is sufficient stock of lentils for exports till October, but exports are likely to decline in the next marketing season.

After a few weeks, the preparation for harvesting of the new lentil crop will begin there. Producers are contracting the sale of the next new crop in very limited quantities as they are confident of rising prices.