Weak Tur Dal Sowing Despite Timely Monsoon, Farmers Shift Focus
08-Jul-2025 11:04 AM
Weak Tur Dal Sowing Despite Timely Monsoon, Farmers Shift Focus
★ Tur acreage down 11% in key states; final sowing data expected in 15–20 days
★ Despite the timely onset and a promising start of the monsoon, tur (pigeon pea) sowing has not picked up pace this season. As of now, tur has been sown on 16.47 lakh hectares across India, which is 2.05 lakh hectares (approx. 11%) less compared to 18.52 lakh hectares during the same period last year.
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State-wise sowing status (2025 vs 2024): Source: Respective State Agriculture Departments
★ Karnataka: 9.88 lakh ha (2025) vs 12.5 lakh ha (2024) – Drop: 2.62 lakh ha (as of 05.07.2025)
★ Maharashtra: 6.58 lakh ha (2025) vs 6.67 lakh ha (2024) – Drop: 0.09 lakh ha (as of 30.06.2025)
★ Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh also saw a decline, while only Telangana recorded a rise in sowing.
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Why the decline?
★ Tur prices remained weak last season, discouraging farmers.
★ Being a long-duration crop, tur is less preferred compared to short-duration, faster-return crops like maize.
★ Soil moisture remains low in Maharashtra–Karnataka border regions. Adequate rainfall is urgently needed, or sowing could drop further.
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Will 2022–2023 repeat?
(The new crop year in India starts on July 1)
★ Last year, tur production and imports were both ample, keeping prices under pressure.
★ But in 2022 and 2023, poor domestic output had pushed tur prices to record highs.
★ Whether this season will mirror that scenario remains uncertain — the picture will be clearer in the next 15–20 days as final sowing figures come in.
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★ Without a strong domestic crop, price control will become difficult.
★ This tur sowing season could significantly influence prices and supply in the coming months.