Government Procurement of Tur Sees Strong Surge in 2025

02-May-2025 11:38 AM

New Delhi.  Government procurement of tur (pigeon pea) has shown a significant increase this year, with central agencies NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) and NCCF (National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India) purchasing substantial quantities from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) under the Price Support Scheme (PSS).

The MSP for tur this year has been fixed at Rs 7,550 per quintal, which is currently at par with prevailing wholesale market prices in major producing states. According to official data, by April 30, around 4.60 lakh tonnes of tur had already been procured by government agencies.

In Karnataka, the procurement drive has been further strengthened by the announcement of an additional bonus for farmers, providing much-needed relief and incentive.

This level of procurement marks a substantial shift, especially when compared to the past decade. For instance:

  • In 2012-13, just 16,000 tonnes of tur was procured.

  • In 2013-14, the figure rose to 42,000 tonnes.

  • In 2014-15, procurement dropped to less than 1,000 tonnes.

  • A boost came in 2016, with a bonus of Rs 425 over the MSP of Rs 4,625, pushing procurement to 1.96 lakh tonnes.

  • In 2017, a Rs 200 bonus over the MSP of Rs 5,250 drove procurement to a record high of over 6 lakh tonnes.

The government maintained decent procurement levels in 2018 and 2019, with purchases of 2.75 lakh tonnes and 5.36 lakh tonnes, respectively. However, from 2020 to 2024, despite MSP increases (Rs 6,000 in 2020 and Rs 6,300 in 2021), high market prices discouraged significant government buying.

This year marks a turning point. The current procurement level of 4.60 lakh tonnes signals renewed government focus on supporting tur farmers and stabilizing the domestic market. The Centre has approved procurement of up to 13.22 lakh tonnes of tur across nine states during this season.

Officials believe this large-scale procurement will be instrumental in:

  • Improving domestic availability of tur,

  • Preventing price spikes, and

  • Ensuring food security in pulses.

The 2025 procurement effort could well be a game changer for India's pulses market.

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