The Union Agriculture Ministry's initial estimate for the 2024-25 tur (pigeon pea) production indicated a slight increase of 85,000 tonnes, predicting a rise from 34.17 lakh tonnes in the 2023-24 season to 35.02 lakh tonnes in the current season.

This estimate was based on encouraging conditions for the tur crop, particularly in Karnataka, which was poised to see a bumper harvest.

However, the situation has since worsened due to crop damage, especially in the Kalaburagi district, a major tur-producing region in Karnataka.

Kala buragi's sowing area for tur had expanded to 6.22 lakh hectares for the 2024 Kharif season, and early reports showed a healthy crop.

Unfortunately, by mid-November, the crop began facing severe damage from insect attacks and diseases, particularly Wilt disease.

Rough estimates suggest that around 2 lakh hectares of tur in Kalaburagi have been affected, with some villages witnessing complete crop destruction and others experiencing significant damage, ranging from 75% to 100%.

While the national sowing area for pigeon pea has increased to 46.55 lakh hectares, up by 5.81 lakh hectares from last year, adverse weather conditions like heavy rains, floods, and waterlogging have impacted crop growth in various regions.

As a result, the Agriculture Ministry had already adjusted its production expectations, forecasting only a modest increase of 85,000 tonnes.

However, given the ongoing crop losses in Karnataka, actual production could fall short of this estimate, particularly in light of the significant damage in key production areas.