India's Kharif Pulses Acreage Surpasses Last Year's Levels at 111.46 Lakh Hectares

India’s total area under kharif pulses has surpassed last year's figures, registering an increase of 1.68 per cent to reach 111.46 lakh hectares (lh) as on August 28, compared to 109.62 lh during the same period a year ago.

The early part of the kharif cropping season experienced a slow start due to the delayed onset and progress of the South-West monsoon. However, a recovery in rainfall across the western and central parts of the country in recent weeks aided sowing activities.

The growth in overall pulses acreage this year has been largely driven by increases in the area dedicated to urad, tur, and moth bean, whereas moong bean registered a decline in acreage.

Despite the shortfall in initial sowing area being largely made up, agricultural experts warn that final yields may remain under pressure due to erratic rainfall patterns and delayed sowing in several regions.

Rahul Chauhan of IGrain India noted that an increase in cultivation area does not automatically guarantee higher output because productivity remains a critical factor. Several states, including Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, have reported lower rainfall. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting potentially lower rainfall in September, crop yields could face downward pressure.

A closer look at specific crops shows that tur acreage increased slightly to 44.59 lh, staying above last year's 44.31 lh and the normal area of 44.31 lh for the period. While key producing states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh saw declines, growth in other states offset the losses. Karnataka's tur acreage dropped 11 per cent to 12.63 lh from 14.16 lh a year ago, Maharashtra saw a 1.56 per cent decline to 11.98 lh, and Madhya Pradesh fell 15 per cent to 2.74 lh. Conversely, Gujarat remained flat at 2.71 lh, Uttar Pradesh grew 33 per cent to 4.95 lh, Chhattisgarh increased 9 per cent to 1.03 lh, Telangana rose 16 per cent to 2.22 lh, Andhra Pradesh grew 20 per cent to 2.3 lh, and Jharkhand saw an increase of over 51 per cent to 2.05 lh.

For urad, central and northern states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat reported expansions in acreage, while Maharashtra and Karnataka experienced declines. Uttar Pradesh recorded a 61 per cent increase to 6.14 lh, Rajasthan grew 27 per cent to 3.99 lh, and Madhya Pradesh rose 19 per cent to 7.07 lh. Meanwhile, Maharashtra saw a sharp drop of 47 per cent to 1.98 lh, and Karnataka declined 21 per cent to 0.77 lh.

In contrast, moong acreage declined across all major producing states. Rajasthan saw a 1.5 per cent dip to 23.17 lh, Karnataka registered a 7.14 per cent decline to 3.9 lh, and Maharashtra recorded a 30 per cent drop to 1.47 lh.

"The expansion in kharif pulses acreage is a positive indicator for domestic supply stability, but businesses and supply chain stakeholders must remain cautious. As experts have pointed out, increased acreage does not automatically translate to higher output. Regional rainfall deficits and potential weather variations in September mean that yield productivity remains the critical variable to monitor for agricultural commerce moving forward." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes