Significant Decline in Pulse Acreage a Cause for Concern

07-Jul-2026 01:30 PM

New Delhi: Compared to last year, the national acreage for pulse crops during the current Kharif season has dropped by 1.034 million hectares—falling from 4.749 million hectares to 3.715 million hectares.

However, this figure remains 42,000 hectares higher than the normal average area of ​​3.673 million hectares recorded up to this date. The five-year average area for pulses across the entire Kharif season is estimated at 12.364 million hectares, whereas the total pulse acreage recorded for the 2025-26 Kharif season stood at 11.897 million hectares.

According to official data, compared to the previous year, the acreage for Arhar (Tur/pigeon pea) has plummeted from 2.10 million hectares to 1.235 million hectares during the current Kharif season; the sowing area for Urad (black gram) has declined from 0.463 million hectares to 0.301 million hectares; and the area for Moong (green gram) has fallen from 1.72 million hectares to 1.681 million hectares.

Although the acreage for Moth bean improved from 0.30 million hectares to 0.345 million hectares, the sowing coverage for other pulses slipped from 0.156 million hectares to 0.140 million hectares.

Top Tur-producing states—such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh—faced a lack of monsoon rainfall until last week, resulting in a sluggish sowing pace. With rainfall now occurring in these regions, the sowing momentum for this key Kharif pulse is expected to pick up.