Pulse Crop Acreage Nears Last Year's Levels

17-Aug-2026 01:44 PM

New Delhi: Despite a 4 percent decline in the acreage of *Arhar* (Tur/pigeon pea) and *Moong* (green gram), the total sown area for Kharif pulse crops improved to 108.14 lakh hectares by August 14, 2026. This is just 35,000 hectares less than the 108.49 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year.

According to official data, compared to last year, the area under *Tur* dropped from 42.01 lakh hectares to 40.31 lakh hectares, and the sown area for *Moong* fell from 33.42 lakh hectares to 32.05 lakh hectares. However, the area under *Urad* (black gram) surged from 20.79 lakh hectares to 23.52 lakh hectares, and the acreage for *Moth* improved from 8.69 lakh hectares to 8.92 lakh hectares. The area under other pulses declined from 3.40 lakh hectares to 3.14 lakh hectares.

The acreage for *Tur* and *Moong* has decreased due to scanty rainfall in leading producing states like Maharashtra and Karnataka. Imports of *Tur* are ongoing, and the government holds substantial stocks of both these pulses. Although *Tur* acreage increased in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, it declined in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. In Karnataka, it dropped from 13.72 lakh hectares to 10.53 lakh hectares; in Maharashtra, it fell from 12.06 lakh hectares to 11.79 lakh hectares; and in Madhya Pradesh, it decreased from 3.24 lakh hectares to 2.51 lakh hectares.

The India Pulses and Grains Association states that the decline in the sown area for *Tur* and *Moong* is not a cause for major concern. The government holds a stock of approximately 12 lakh tonnes, and stocks are also available at ports and with farmers and traders. There could have been issues with urad, but there has been a significant increase in its sowing area.