Pulse acreage lags behind last year despite improvement in sowing

27-Jul-2026 10:32 AM

New Delhi. While there has been significant week-on-week improvement in the sowing of Kharif pulse crops—particularly a notable rise in Urad acreage—the total area under pulse cultivation remains well behind last year's figures due to a lag in the planting of Tur, Moong, and Moth.

Latest data from the Union Ministry of Agriculture reveals that the total area under pulse crops during the current Kharif season reached 84.57 lakh hectares by July 24, 2026; this is 6.90 lakh hectares less than the 91.47 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year.

During the period under review, the area under Arhar (Tur) dropped from 35.27 lakh hectares to 31.17 lakh hectares, Moong acreage fell from 28.39 lakh hectares to 26.89 lakh hectares, and the area under Moth declined from 7.68 lakh hectares to 5.08 lakh hectares; conversely, the sowing area for Urad increased from 17.27 lakh hectares to 18.67 lakh hectares.

Sowing of other pulses, including Kulthi and Khesari, covered 2.59 lakh hectares, slightly lower than the 2.70 lakh hectares recorded last year. Pulse sowing is still underway in some states.

Reports indicate a significant reduction in Tur acreage in Karnataka and Moong acreage in Rajasthan. Moth sowing has also been lower in Rajasthan.