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Informist, Thursday, Jul. 24, 2025

--Govt official: Worried about tur acreage unless rain improves in key areas

--CONTEXT: Tur sowing down 5.1% on year at 3.0 million hectares as of Mon

--Govt official: Tur sowing in parts of Karnataka, Marathwada dn on low rain

--CONTEXT: Tur sowing window closes on Aug 15

By Pallavi Singhal

NEW DELHI – The government is worried about a fall in tur acreage in the ongoing kharif season due to deficient rains in key growing regions, said a senior government official. Sowing of the widely consumed variety of pulses in the country is down 5.1% on year at 3.0 million hectares, data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Monday showed.

Maharashtra is the largest producer of tur, accounting for over 33% of the total production, while Karnataka is a close second and accounts for another 30%. "Deficient rainfall in Marathwada and parts of interior Karnataka has led to a lag in sowing. With sowing window closing by August 15, we are worried of a fall in acreage unless rainfall improves," the official said. While rainfall in Marathwada is down as much as 35%, it is down 5% in south interior Karnataka, data from India Meterological Department showed. 

According to figures given by states, tur acreage in Maharashtra is down almost 2% on year at 1.14 million hectares, while the acreage in Karnataka is down 17% at 1.22 million hectares.                     

India's tur production has been on a downward trend since crop year 2021-22 (Jul-Jun) when production rose to a record 4.22 million tonnes. Production of the crop has since been sliding, and stood at 3.56 million tonnes in 2024-25. 

To bridge the demand-supply gap, the government has allowed duty-free imports of tur dal since May 2021. This arrangement has been extended multiple times, with the latest extension permitting duty-free imports until Mar. 31, 2026. This measure, the government says, aims to stabilise domestic prices and ensure adequate availability.

As the country's production declines, its imports have been been rising. India imported as much as 1.22 million tonnes of tur in 2024-25 (Apr-Mar), sharply higher than 4420,000 tonnes in FY22, when imports were opened. The government has signed agreements with countries such as Mozambique, Malawi, and Myanmmar to import tur dal without quantitative restrictions.

Tur accounts for a significant 27% share in the pulses price index. Despite the negative inflation rate for pulses at -1.06% in June, any substantial price increase in tur dal could have broader implications for food inflation.

The government's ability to intervene in the market is also limited due to low buffer stocks. The mandated buffer stock for tur is at least 1 million tonnes, but the government procured only 588,000 tonnes, Informist exclusively reported. With diminished capacity to stabilise prices, the government may face challenges if production declines and prices surge.  End

Edited by Avishek Dutta

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